Model for surface cracking

Crack formation in composites through a spring model

“…Failure of materials has been studied through statistical models for the past two decades [1][2][3]. Such works are reviewed in Ref.…”

Studies of crack dynamics in clay soil

“…Once a spring is broken, the distribution of stress in the immediate neighborhood is affected and the development of a crack starts reproducing the phenomenology observed in experiments. Alternatively, a network of electrical resistors or fuses can be considered which obeys a similar phenomenology after breakage of single fuses once a critical current is exceeded (Colina et al, 1993).…”

Experimental model of cracking induced by drying shrinkage

“…cement), and a more complex dense array of branched cracks in more heterogeneous structures (standard concrete and mortar). Indeed heterogeneities will favour [2][3][4] the nucleation of stable micro cracks which progressively shields the stress, and gives rise to a "controlled" development of cracking. In contrast, for homogeneous materials, the nucleation of cracks is the limiting process.…”