Mechanism of time-delayed fractures

Abstract
We use atomistic Monte Carlo simulations to reexamine competing theories of fracture nucleation in solids under weak external stresses. We argue that the energy of the critical Griffith crack is not the actual barrier for thermal fracture nucleation in brittle solids as frequently assumed. The nucleation is dominated by the activation of vacancy clusters and not of microcracks, as assumed in the conventional theory of fracture nucleation.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: