Dynamical Instabilities of Quasi-static Crack Propagation Under Thermal Stress

Abstract

We address the theory of quasi-static crack propagation in a strip of glass that is pulled from a hot oven towards a cold bath. This problem had been carefully studied in a number of experiments that offer a wealth of data to challenge the theory. We improve upon previous theoretical treatments in a number of ways. First, we offer a technical improvement of the discussion of the instability towards the creation of a straight crack. This improvement consists of employing Padé approximants to solve the relevant Weiner-Hopf factorization problem that is associated with this transition. Next we improve the discussion of the onset of oscillatory instability towards an undulating crack. We offer a novel way of considering the problem as a sum of solutions of a finite strip without a crack and an infinite medium with a crack. This allows us to present a closed form solution of the stress intensity factors in the vicinity of the oscillatory instability. Most importantly we develop a {\em dynamical} description of the actual trajectory in the regime of oscillatory crack. This theory is based on the dynamical law for crack propagation proposed by Hodgdon and Sethna. We show that this dynamical law results in a solution of the actual track trajectory in post critical conditions; we can compute from first principles the critical value of the control parameters, and the characteristics of the solution like the wavelength of the oscillations. We present detailed comparison with experimental measurements without any free parameter. The comparison appears quite excellent. Lastly we show that the dynamical law can be translated to an equation for the amplitude of the oscillatory crack; this equation predicts correctly the scaling exponents observed in experiments.