New model for crack growth using random walkers

Abstract

In close analogy to diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) and inspired by a work of Roux, a random walker algorithm is constructed to solve the problem of crack growth in an elastic medium. In contrast to conventional lattice approaches, the stress field is not calculated throughout the whole medium, but random walkers are used to detect only the hot sites on the surface of the crack. Using this new method we generate crack-clusters up to sizes of 20,000 particles on simple workstations within reasonable time.