Concurrent factors determine toughening in the hydraulic fracture of poroelastic composites
Title | Concurrent factors determine toughening in the hydraulic fracture of poroelastic composites |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Lucantonio A, Noselli G |
Journal | Meccanica |
Volume | 52 |
Pagination | 3489-3498 |
Keywords | brittle layer, cohesive zone, fracture, hydraulic fracture, hydrogel, multiple-cracking, toughening |
Abstract | Brittle materials fail catastrophically. In consequence of their limited flaw-tolerance, failure occurs by localized fracture and is typically a dynamic process. Recently, experiments on epithelial cell monolayers have revealed that this scenario can be significantly modified when the material susceptible to cracking is adhered to a hydrogel substrate. Thanks to the hydraulic coupling between the brittle layer and the poroelastic substrate, such a composite can develop a toughening mechanism that relies on the simultaneous growth of multiple cracks. Here, we study this remarkable behaviour by means of a detailed model, and explore how the material and loading parameters concur in determining the macro- scopic toughness of the system. By extending a previous study, our results show that rapid loading conveys material toughness by promoting distributed cracking. Moreover, our theoretical findings may suggest innovative architectures of flaw-insensitive materials with higher toughness. |
DOI | 10.1007/s11012-017-0621-5 |
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