1212.2520 (G. Pontuale et al.)

Slow crack propagation through a disordered medium: Critical transition
and dissipation    [PDF]

G. Pontuale, F. Colaiori, A. Petri

We show that the intermittent and self-similar fluctuations displayed by a slow crack during the propagation in a heterogeneous medium can be quantitatively described by an extension of a classical statistical model for fracture. The model yields the correct dynamical and morphological scaling, and allows to demonstrate that the scale invariance originates from the presence of a non-equilibrium, reversible, critical transition which in the presence of dissipation gives rise to self organized critical behaviour.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1212.2520