Slepyan's dynamic contribution to studies of fracture.

Abstract

After a brief review of atomistic theories of defect dynamics in solids, a summary of Slepyan's first computation of dynamic fracture in a lattice is presented. Some of the main extensions and clarifi- cations of the original physical picture are then summarized. Many molecular dynamics simulations of fracture would benefit if Slepyan's work were better known. This article is part of the theme issue 'Modelling of dynamic phenomena and localization in structured media (part 1)'.