Size selection of crack front defects: Multiple fracture-plane interactions and intrinsic lengthscales

Following the previous Blog entry on 3D fracture and out-of-plane crack structures: the essential role of material disorder, we add here a related manuscript (see also attached PDF):

Size selection of crack front defects: Multiple fracture-plane interactions and intrinsic lengthscales

Here, based on extensive experiments on numerous brittle polymeric gels and recently developed concepts, we present results regarding the nature and properties of multiple fracture-plane interactions in 3D and the intrinsic lengthscales involved (missing in LEFM), as revealed by the spontaneous formation of symmetry-breaking crack front defects (facets/steps).