Fragmentation as an aggregation process: the role of defects

A cohesive object will eventually break into fragment when experiencing a strong deformation, during an impact for instance. Using necklaces of cohesive magnetized spheres suddenly expanded, we have shown that the fragmentation of this one-dimensional material results from an inverse aggregation cascade (Vledouts et al. 2015 Proc. R. Soc. A 471, 20150678. (doi:10.1098/rspa.2015.0678)). Here, we explore a variant of this process by changing the force law between the attracting spheres, using hydrogel beads linked by capillary bridges. We also investigate the role of (weak) defects in the cohesion strength and the consequences of a distribution of forces between the beads. It is found that fragment do form by a cascade of aggregations, which is interrupted earlier when the force disorder is stronger.