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Failure avalanches in fiber bundles for discrete load increase
Per C Hemmer1, Srutarshi Pradhan
1Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. per.hemmer@ntnu.no
Summary
The study reveals how avalanche sizes in fiber bundle failure depend on loading methods. Continuous loading yields an exponent of 5/2, while discrete steps result in an exponent of 3.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- Fiber bundle models are used to study material failure.
- Avalanche statistics in these models often follow power laws.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the exponent of avalanche size distribution in fiber bundle failure.
- To determine how loading methods influence this exponent.
Main Methods:
- Analytical treatment of fiber bundle failure.
- Consideration of general probability distributions for fiber breakdown thresholds.
Main Results:
- The avalanche size exponent (xi) depends on the loading method.
- Continuous load increase results in xi=5/2.
- Discrete load increase yields xi=3.
Conclusions:
- The method of external load application significantly alters failure dynamics in fiber bundles.
- The exponent xi=3 is relevant for discrete loading, differing from the continuous loading case.
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