The method of molecular dynamics is used to study the mechanism governing crack growth in two‐dimensional crystals at low and high temperatures. It is shown that at low temperatures and small strains the fracture is due to fluctuations breaking interatomic bonds in the crack tip. At large strains the fracture becomes a three‐stage process which is connected with dislocation emission, cleavage of dislocation cores, and nucleation of new cracks.
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