MODEL INSPIRED BY POPULATION GENETICS TO STUDY FRAGMENTATION OF BRITTLE PLATES

Abstract

We use a model whose rules were inspired by population genetics and language competition, the random capability growth model, to describe the statistical details observed in experiments of fragmentation of brittle plate-like objects, and in particular the existence of (i) composite scaling laws, (ii) small critical exponents τ associated with the power-law fragment-size distribution, and (iii) the typical pattern of cracks. The proposed computer simulations do not require numerical solutions of Newton's equations of motion, nor several additional assumptions normally used in discrete element models. The model is also able to predict some physical aspects which could be tested in new experiments of fragmentation of brittle systems.