Title | Solitonic State in Microscopic Dynamic Failures |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Ghaffari, HO, Griffith, WA, Pec, M |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Date Published | Jan-12-2019 |
Abstract | Onset of permanent deformation in crystalline materials under a sharp indenter tip is accompanied by nucleation and propagation of defects. By measuring the spatio-temporal strain field near the indenter tip during indentation tests, we demonstrate that the dynamic strain history at the moment of a displacement burst carries characteristics of the formation and interaction of local excitations, or solitons. We show that dynamic propagation of multiple solitons is followed by a short time interval where the propagating fronts can accelerate suddenly. As a result of such abrupt local accelerations, duration of the fast-slip phase of a failure event is shortened. Our results show that formation and annihilation of solitons mediate the microscopic fast weakening phase, during which extreme acceleration and collision of solitons lead to non-Newtonian behavior and Lorentz contraction, i.e., shortening of solitons’ characteristic length. The results open new horizons for understanding dynamic material response during failure and, more generally, complexity of earthquake sources. |
URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-38037-w |
DOI | 10.1038/s41598-018-38037-w |
Short Title | Sci Rep |