Statistical features of magnetic noise in mixed-type impact fracture

Abstract

We study the statistical features of magnetic noise accompanying the dynamic fracture of steel samples during mixed type fracture, where the overall ductile character of crack propagation is interrupted by a sudden brittle jump. The structure of the voltage time series is investigated by identifying discrete peaks which correspond to elementary steps of the jerky cracking process. We show that the height, duration, area, and energy of peaks have power law distributions with exponents falling close to the corresponding values of pure ductile fracture. For single peaks a power law correlation of the height and area with the width is evidenced, however, the mixed nature of fracture gives rise to a crossover between two regimes of different exponents. The average pulse shape of micro-cracking events has a parabolic form with a right handed asymmetry similarly to quasi-static fracture propagation. The asymmetry emerges due to stress localization at the advancing crack front.