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Crack motion in viscoelastic solids: the role of the flash temperature
- Source :
- The European physical journal. E, Soft matter. 17(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- We present a simple theory of crack propagation in viscoelastic solids. We calculate the energy per unit area, G(v), to propagate a crack, as a function of the crack tip velocity v. Our study includes the non-uniform temperature distribution (flash temperature) in the vicinity of the crack tip, which has a profound influence on G(v). At very low crack tip velocities, the heat produced at the crack tip can diffuse away, resulting in very small temperature increase: in this “low-speed” regime the flash temperature effect is unimportant. However, because of the low heat conductivity of rubber-like materials, already at moderate crack tip velocities a very large temperature increase (of order of 1000 K) can occur close to the crack tip. We show that this will drastically affect the viscoelastic energy dissipation close to the crack tip, resulting in a “hot-crack” propagation regime. The transition between the low-speed regime and the hot-crack regime is very abrupt, which may result in unstable crack motion, e.g. stick-slip motion or catastrophic failure, as observed in some experiments. In addition, the high crack tip temperature may result in significant thermal decomposition within the heated region, resulting in a liquid-like region in the vicinity of the crack tip. This may explain the change in surface morphology (from rough to smooth surfaces) which is observed as the crack tip velocity is increased above the instability threshold.
- Subjects :
- Materials science
Fissure
Biophysics
Crack tip opening displacement
Fracture mechanics
Surfaces and Interfaces
General Chemistry
Mechanics
Dissipation
Physics::Classical Physics
Crack growth resistance curve
Instability
Physics::Geophysics
Condensed Matter::Materials Science
Crack closure
Thermal conductivity
medicine.anatomical_structure
medicine
General Materials Science
Biotechnology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 12928941
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The European physical journal. E, Soft matter
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0fbb6a96dca5715fd95716ac0613e8e4