Author(s)

V.V. Silberschmidt

Abstract

Model of stochastic crack propagation: fractal and multifractal parameters of the process V.V. Silberschmidt Institute for Structure Mechanics DLR, D-38022 Braunschweig, Germany, and Mining Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 614007 Perm, Russia INTRODUCTION The crack propagation in stochastic materials (brittle rocks and composites being examples) is characterised by the branching and non-uniform spatial evolution. This is the result of different factors, the most important being: the initial random distribution of defects, the scatter of material's properties, complicated character of damage accumulation and crack-damage interaction. Such behaviour presupposes the elaboration of adequate models and methods of simulation because traditional mechanical approaches deal mainly with the averaged (effective) material parameters and relatively simple geometry of cracks. The latter are usually presented by the lines or smooth curves in the 2d- problems, and also by the

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