Oscillating fracture paths in rubber.
We have found an oscillating instability of fast-running cracks in thin rubber sheets. A well defined transition from straight to wavy cracks occurs as the amount of biaxial strain increases. Measurements of the amplitude and wavelength of the oscillation near the onset of this instability indicate that the instability is a Hopf bifurcation.
Deegan
Robert D
RD
Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. rddeegan@chaos.ph.utexas.edu
Petersan
Paul J
PJ
Marder
M
M
Swinney
Harry L
HL