2020/06/08 by Justin Tauber, Aimée R. Kok, Tauber, Justin +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2006.04642
We study the influence of thermal fluctuations on the fracture of elastic\nnetworks, via simulations of the uniaxial extension of central-force spring\nnetworks with varying rigidity, i.e. connectivity. Studying their failure\nresponse, both at the macroscopic and microscopic level, we find that an\nincrease in temperature corresponds to a more homogeneous stress\n(re)distribution and induces thermally activated failure of springs. As a\nconsequence, the material strength decreases upon increasing temperature, the\ndamage is spread over larger lengthscales and a more ductile fracture process\nis observed. These effects are modulated by network rigidity and can therefore\nbe tuned via the network connectivity and the rupture threshold of the springs.\nKnowledge of the interplay between temperature and rigidity improves our\nunderstanding of the fracture of elastic networks, such as (biological) polymer\nnetworks, and can help to refine design principles for tough soft materials.\n