Finite-distance singularities in the tearing of thin sheets

Abstract

We investigate the interaction between two cracks propagating in a thin sheet. Two different experimental geometries allow us to tear sheets by imposing an out-of-plane shear loading. We find that two tears converge along self-similar paths and annihilate each other. These finite-distance singularities display geometry-dependent similarity exponents, which we retrieve using scaling arguments based on a balance between the stretching and the bending of the sheet close to the tips of the cracks.

4 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Tearing Graphene Sheets From Adhesive Substrates Produces Tapered Nanoribbons
• Dynamics of Simple Cracks
• Theory of dynamic crack branching in brittle materials
• Thermal fracture as a framework for quasi-static crack propagation
• The dynamics of cracks in torn thin sheets

Cited by in corpus (2)

• How Geometry Controls the Tearing of Adhesive Thin Films on Curved Surfaces
• Tearing of thin sheets: Cracks interacting through an elastic ridge