TITLE:
Simulation of Crack Pattern Formation Due to Shrinkage in a Drying Material
AUTHORS:
Takuya Uehara
KEYWORDS:
Desiccation Crack, Tensile Force, Crack Initiation, Crack Propagation, Pattern Formation, Computer Simulation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modelling and Simulation,
Vol.11 No.1,
December
12,
2022
ABSTRACT: Crack patterns observed in nature have attracted the
interest of researchers in various fields, and the mechanism of the pattern
formation has been investigated. However, the phenomenon is very complicated,
and many factors affect the process. Therefore, we are motivated to construct a
general simulation code with a simple algorithm. In this study, crack pattern
formation due to shrinkage caused by the drying of a wet material was
simulated. The process was simplified as follows: tensile force is generated in
the model, and a crack is generated when the tension exceeds a critical value.
The tensile forces in the x and y directions are independently
evaluated. A crack propagates perpendicular to the tension until it reaches
another crack or a boundary. Based on this modeling, simulations with a
two-dimensional square domain were performed. Consequently, a cross-divided
pattern was generated. Assuming zigzag crack propagation, more realistic
patterns were obtained. The effects of the boundary and domain size were also
considered, and various characteristic patterns were obtained. Furthermore, the
orientation dependency was simulated, and 45˚ declined patterns and rectangularly divided
patterns were generated. The model presented in this study is very simplified
and is expected to be applicable to various objects.