Numerical Simulation of the Loss of Stability of a Set of Cracks

Resumo

The loss of stability of a set of cracks under tensile stress is studied by computer simulation. The mechanism of the loss of stability changes as a function of a single parameter m, namely, the incipient crack size divided by the average intercrack distance. The squared stress of the loss of stability is found to decrease in proportion to logm over a wide m range (0.001 ≤ m ≤ 0.3).