The dynamics of cracks in torn thin sheets

Abstract

Motivated by recent experiments, we present a study of the dynamics of cracks in thin sheets. While the equations of elasticity for thin plates are well known, there remains the question of path selection for a propagating crack. We invoke a generalization of the principle of local symmetry to provide a criterion for path selection and demonstrate qualitative agreement with the experimental findings. The nature of the singularity at the crack tip is studied with and without the interference of nonlinear terms.

7 pages, 11 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Laws of crack motion and phase-field models of fracture

Cited by in corpus (6)

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• Stress Intensity Factor of Mode III Cracks in Thin Sheets
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