Abstract
Cracks in brittle materials have terminal velocities far below theoretical predictions. To address this problem we have investigated the propagation of cracks in a brittle plastic (polymethylmethacrylate). Velocity measurements with resolution an order of magnitude better than past experiments reveal the existence of a critical velocity at which the velocity begins to oscillate, the mean acceleration drops sharply, and a pattern is formed on the fracture surface. Thus the dynamics of cracks may be governed by a dynamical instability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 457-460 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |