Abstract
The dynamic fracture behavior of brittle materials is investigated. The morphology of the fracture surface is examined in detail in four polymers: polymethylmethacrylate, Solithane-113, Homalite-100 and poly-carbonate. The fracture surface markings are examined to determine the micromechanisms of fracture. This examination reveals clearly that the operative micromechanism that governs dynamic fracture in brittle materials is the nucleation, growth and coalescence of microcracks. Following a quantitative characterization of the microcracking patterns, a very simple nucleation and growth model is then put forward. Imposing nucleation and growth criteria based on the experimental observations, the simulation recreates the experimental observations, not only of the microscope surface features, but also of the macroscopic behavior such as the constancy of the crack speed.
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