Delayed Fracture in Fiber Bundles

Abstract

Fracture is usually associated with the application of stresses or strains exceeding a critical rupture threshold, often referred to as the rupture point. However, many materials can fail after a finite stochastic time under a constant subcritical strain, known as delayed fracture. In this work, we study this phenomenon by performing numerical simulations of a one-dimensional fiber bundle model under constant strain, with the aim of developing a model capable of reproducing delayed fracture. We observe that, within a limited strain range, delayed fracture can occur in this type of model if we introduce a continuous damage rule and a local stiffness redistribution.