Failure time in the fiber-bundle model with thermal noise and disorder

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Statistical Physics
• Solid Mechanics

Background:

• The fiber-bundle model is a standard model for studying material failure.
• Understanding fracture mechanics is crucial for predicting material lifespan.
• The influence of quenched disorder and thermal noise on failure time requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analytically and numerically investigate the average time for macroscopic fracture onset.
• To explore the role of quenched disorder and thermal noise in a fiber-bundle model under constant load.
• To derive an exact expression for failure time in specific conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analytical investigation using mathematical derivations.
• Numerical simulations of the fiber-bundle model.
• Analysis under constant load conditions with quenched disorder and thermal noise.

Main Results:

• An implicit exact expression for the failure time was found in the low-temperature limit.
• The derived expression was accurately confirmed by direct simulations.
• It was determined that quenched disorder lowers the energy barrier for fracture.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a theoretical framework for predicting fracture onset time.
• The findings are validated through numerical simulations, enhancing confidence in the model.
• Disorder plays a significant role in accelerating material failure by reducing the energy barrier.