A Cellular Automaton Model of Damage

C. A. Serino, W. Klein, and J. B. Rundle

Phys. Rev. E 81, 016105 (2010) [arXiv]

Featured on Phys. Rev. E Kaleidoscope for January 2010.

Abstract: We investigate the role of equilibrium methods and stress transfer range in describing the process of damage. We find that equilibrium approaches are not applicable to the description of damage and the catastrophic failure mechanism if the stress transfer is short ranged. In the long range limit equilibrium methods apply only if the healing mechanism associated with ruptured elements is instantaneous. Furthermore we find that the nature of the catastrophic failure depends strongly on the stress transfer range. Long range transfer systems have a failure mechanism that resembles nucleation. In short range stress transfer systems the catastrophic failure is a continuous process that in some respects resembles a critical point.

Movies

Nearest-Neighbor Long Range
Short Movie (Run Time: 13 sec.) Short Movie (Run Time: 20 sec.)
Long Movie (Run Time: 9 min. 54 sec.) Long Movie (Run Time: 1 min. 4 sec.)

Images

Nearest-Neighbor Long Range


Christopher A. Serino

Last modified: 31 January 2010