Atomic-scale modeling of crack branching in oxide glass

Brittle oxide glasses can easily break into fragments because of crack branching during fracture. The fundamental mechanism underlying this common phenomenon remains controversial. In this study, using atomic-scale simulations with three independent force fields, we directly observe crack branching...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa materialia Vol. 216; p. 117098
Main Authors Luo, Jian, Deng, Binghui, Vargheese, K. Deenamma, Tandia, Adama, DeMartino, Steven E., Mauro, John C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021
Subjects
crack branching
crack propagation
molecular dynamics
oxide glass
oxide glass
crack propagation
crack branching
molecular dynamics
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Summary:Brittle oxide glasses can easily break into fragments because of crack branching during fracture. The fundamental mechanism underlying this common phenomenon remains controversial. In this study, using atomic-scale simulations with three independent force fields, we directly observe crack branching in silica glass. The critical speed at which the crack branches increases with the critical far field loading. The atomic simulations revealed that crack branching in brittle silica glass is triggered by the nucleation of two or three cavities at different directions ahead of the running crack tip. We compared the simulation results to the cavities observed on the fracture surface in a glass fiber broken under high stress. [Display omitted]
ISSN:1359-6454
1873-2453
DOI:10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117098