Eytan Katzav

Theory of dynamic crack branching in brittle materials

The problem of dynamic symmetric branching of a tensile crack propagating in a brittle material is studied within Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics theory. The Griffith energy criterion and the principle of local symmetry provide necessary conditions for the onset of dynamic branching instability and for the subsequent paths of the branches. The theory predicts a critical velocity for branching and a well defined shape described by a branching angle and a curvature of the side branches. The model rests on a scenario of crack branching based on reasonable assumptions and on exact dynamic results for the anti-plane branching problem. Our results reproduce within a simplified 2D continuum mechanics approach the main experimental features of the branching instability of fast cracks in brittle materials.

Thermal fracture as a framework for quasi-static crack propagation

We address analytically and numerically the problem of crack path prediction in the model system of a crack propagating under thermal loading. We show that one can explain the instability from a straight to a wavy crack propagation by using only the principle of local symmetry and the Griffith criterion. We then argue that the calculations of the stress intensity factors can be combined with the standard crack propagation criteria to obtain the evolution equation for the crack tip within any loading configuration. The theoretical results of the thermal crack problem agree with the numerical simulations we performed using a phase field model. Moreover, it turns out that the phase-field model allows to clarify the nature of the transition between straight and oscillatory cracks which is shown to be supercritical.

Stress Field at a Sliding Frictional Contact: Experiments and Calculations

Abstract A MEMS-based sensing device is used to measure the normal and tangential stress fields at the base of a rough elastomer film in contact with a smooth glass cylinder in steady sliding. This geometry allows for a direct comparison between the stress profiles measured along the sliding direction and the predictions of an original exact bidimensional model of friction. The latter assumes Amontons’ friction law, which implies that in steady sliding the interfacial tangential stress is equal to the normal stress times a pressure-independent dynamic friction coefficient μ d , but makes no further assumption on the normal stress field. Discrepancy between the measured and calculated profiles is less than 14% over the range of loads explored. Comparison with a test model, based on the classical assumption that the normal stress field is unchanged upon tangential loading, shows that the exact model better reproduces the experimental profiles at high loads. However, significant deviations remain that are not accounted for by either calculations. In that regard, the relevance of two other assumptions made in the calculations, namely (i) the smoothness of the interface and (ii) the pressure-independence of μ d is briefly discussed.

Large deviations of the smallest eigenvalue of the Wishart-Laguerre ensemble

We consider the large deviations of the smallest eigenvalue of the Wishart-Laguerre Ensemble. Using the Coulomb gas picture we obtain rate functions for the large fluctuations to the left and the right of the hard edge. Our results are compared with known exact results for β=1 finding good agreement. We also consider the case of almost square matrices finding new universal rate functions describing large fluctuations.

Yield-Optimized Superoscillations

Superoscillating signals are band-limited signals that oscillate in some region faster their largest Fourier component. While such signals have many scientific and technological applications, their actual use is hampered by the fact that an overwhelming proportion of the energy goes into that part of the signal, which is not superoscillating. In the present paper, we consider the problem of optimization of such signals. The optimization that we describe here is that of the superoscillation yield, the ratio of the energy in the superoscillations to the total energy of the signal, given the range and frequency of the superoscillations. The constrained optimization leads to a generalized eigenvalue problem, which is solved numerically. It is noteworthy that it is possible to increase further the superoscillation yield at the cost of slightly deforming the oscillatory part of the signal, while keeping the average frequency. We show, how this can be done gradually, which enables a tradeoff between the distortion and the yield. We show how to apply this approach to nontrivial domains, and explain how to generalize this to higher dimensions.

Roughness of tensile crack fronts in heterogenous materials

The dynamics of planar crack fronts in heterogeneous media is studied using a recently proposed stochastic equation of motion that takes into account nonlinear effects. The analysis is carried for a moving front in the quasi-static regime using the Self Consistent Expansion. A continuous dynamical phase transition between a flat phase and a dynamically rough phase, with a roughness exponent ζ = 1/2, is found. The rough phase becomes possible due to the destabilization of the linear modes by the nonlinear terms. Taking into account the irreversibility of the crack propagation, we infer that the roughness exponent found in experiments might become history dependent, and so our result gives a lower bound for ζ.

Fracture surfaces of heterogeneous materials: A 2D solvable model

Using an elastostatic description of crack growth based on the Griffith criterion and the principle of local symmetry, we present a stochastic model describing the propagation of a crack tip in a 2D heterogeneous brittle material. The model ensures the stability of straight cracks and allows for the study of the roughening of fracture surfaces. When neglecting the effect of the nonsingular stress, the problem becomes exactly solvable and yields analytic predictions for the power spectrum of the paths. This result suggests an alternative to the conventional power law analysis often used in the analysis of experimental data.

What is the connection between ballistic deposition and the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation?

Ballistic deposition (BD) is believed to belong to the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) universality class. In this paper we study the validity of this belief by rigorously deriving a continuum equation from the BD microscopic rules, which deviates from the KPZ equation. We show that in one dimension and in the presence of noise the deviation is not important. This is not the case in the absence of noise. In more than one dimension and in the presence of noise we obtain an equation that superficially seems to be a continuum equation but in which the symmetry under rotations around the growth direction is broken.

Comparative Study of Crumpling and Folding of Thin Sheets

Crumpling and folding of paper are at first sight very different ways of confining thin sheets in a small volume: the former one is random and stochastic whereas the latest one is regular and deterministic. Nevertheless, certain similarities exist. Crumpling is surprisingly inefficient: a typical crumpled paper ball in a waste-bin consists of as much as 80% air. Similarly, if one folds a sheet of paper repeatedly in two, the necessary force becomes so large that it is impossible to fold it more than six or seven times. Here we show that the stiffness that builds up in the two processes is of the same nature, and therefore simple folding models allow us to capture also the main features of crumpling. An original geometrical approach shows that crumpling is hierarchical, just as the repeated folding. For both processes the number of layers increases with the degree of compaction. We find that for both processes the crumpling force increases as a power law with the number of folded layers, and that the dimensionality of the compaction process (crumpling or folding) controls the exponent of the scaling law between the force and the compaction ratio.

Solution of the Percus–Yevick equation for hard hyperspheres in even dimensions

We solve the Percus-Yevick equation in even dimensions by reducing it to a set of simple integrodifferential equations. This work generalizes an approach we developed previously for hard disks. We numerically obtain both the pair correlation function and the virial coefficients for a fluid of hyperspheres in dimensions d = 4, 6, and 8, and find good agreement with the available exact results and Monte Carlo simulations. This paper confirms the alternating character of the virial series for d > or = 6 and provides the first evidence for an alternating character for d = 4. Moreover, we show that this sign alternation is due to the existence of a branch point on the negative real axis. It is this branch point that determines the radius of convergence of the virial series, whose value we determine explicitly for d = 4, 6, 8. Our results complement, and are consistent with, a recent study in odd dimensions [R. D. Rohrmann et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 014510 (2008)].