In this paper, we examine the response of a crack tip in an electrically conducting material subjected to a combination of mechanical load as well as a high density electrical current. We present a detailed examination of the process of evolution of melting and ejection, as revealed by high speed photography. The critical mechanical and electrical parameters that govern crack extension are then determined for two different alloys. Finally, we present an evaluation of the phenomenon through a coupled field simulation to examine the nature of the interaction between the electric field and the thermo-mechanical response.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.