Two-Dimensional Statistical Mechanical Model for Crack Growth

Describing crack growth and evolution is critical to investigating fracture mechanisms. In a previous work, an asymptotically correct theoretical and computational model was developed to represent one-dimensional crack growth under multiple regimes of load behavior. These rate equations are motivated by the influence of thermal fluctuations of the material and its impact in crack growth. Now we investigate the accuracy of the original model through the development of a two-dimensional crack model. The idealized model system is a rectangular lattice of bonds with a load regime applied to an edge, this is characteristic of interlaminar fracture. Crack growth rate equations are developed and are pushed to a continuum limit to hopeful results. The new model is compared to rate growth models previously seen in literature and used to gauge the accuracy of the original one-dimensional model.