Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation
Published on: June 28, 2015
Universality and hysteretic dynamics in rapid fracture
1The Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
Abstract:
Experiments in the dynamic fracture of brittle polyacrylamide gels show that a single-crack state undergoes a hysteretic transition to the microbranching instability with a characteristic activation time. Quantitative measurements also indicate that features such as crack front inertia, self-focusing of microbranches, and the appearance of front waves are universal attributes of dynamic fracture.
Related Concept Videos
Plasticity
Stress-Strain Diagram - Brittle Materials
Plastic Behavior
Fatigue
Generalized Hooke's Law
Relation between Poisson's ratio, Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rigidity

