The dependence of the dry friction threshold on rupture dynamics

The static friction coefficient between two materials is considered to be a material constant. We present experiments demonstrating that the ratio of shear to normal force needed to move contacting blocks can, instead, vary systematically with controllable changes in the external loading configuration. Large variations in both the friction coefficient and consequent stress drop are tightly linked to changes in the rupture dynamics of the rough interface separating the two blocks.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Dynamics of Simple Cracks

Cracks are the major vehicle for material failure, and often exhibit rather complex dynamics. The laws that govern their motion have remained an object of constant study for nearly a century. The simplest kind of dynamic crack is a single crack that moves along a straight line. We first briefly review current understanding of this "simple" object. We then critically examine the assumptions of the classic, scale-free, theory of dynamic fracture, and note when it works and how it may fail if certain of these assumptions are relaxed. A number of examples is provided, where the introduction of physical scales into this scale-free theory profoundly affects both a crack's structure and the resulting dynamics.Comment: 36 pages, 8 figures, a review paper submitted to "Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics

Recent developments in dynamic fracture: Some perspectives

We briefly review a number of important recent experimental and theoretical developments in the field of dynamic fracture. Topics include experimental validation of the equations of motion for straight tensile cracks (in both infinite media and strip geometries), validation of a new theoretical description of the near-tip fields of dynamic cracks incorporating weak elastic nonlinearities, a new understanding of dynamic instabilities of tensile cracks in both 2D and 3D, crack front dynamics, and the relation between frictional motion and dynamic shear cracks. Related future research directions are briefly discussed.Comment: Added refs. & figs., minor textual change

Steady-State Cracks in Viscoelastic Lattice Models II

We present the analytic solution of the Mode III steady-state crack in a square lattice with piecewise linear springs and Kelvin viscosity. We show how the results simplify in the limit of large width. We relate our results to a model where the continuum limit is taken only along the crack direction. We present results for small velocity, and for large viscosity, and discuss the structure of the critical bifurcation for small velocity. We compute the size of the process zone wherein standard continuum elasticity theory breaks down.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure