Fracture of Brittle Solids. I. Distribution Function for Fragment Size in Single Fracture (Theoretical)

1961 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Gilvarry
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Function ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Single Fracture ◽  
Brittle Solids

Fractal crushing of ice and brittle solids

1991 ◽  
Vol 433 (1889) ◽  
pp. 469-477 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
Brittle Solids ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Elastic Fracture ◽  
Ice Forces ◽  
Fractal Size

A significant ‘scale effect’ is observed when sea ice forces on structures are measured at field scale: the force per unit contact area is not independent of area, but decreases with increasing area. Fragments of broken materials are found to have a fractal size distribution, with a fractal dimension close to 2.5 over a remarkably wide range of fragment size. The research described in this paper brings these two observations together, and shows that they can be explained by a simple model of crushing, which incorporates the relation between fragment size and splitting force predicted by linear elastic fracture mechanics. The model indicates a special role for the fractal dimension of 2.5, and predicts a relation between force and area, consistent with field observations.

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