Abstract
The cracking in the desiccating process of pastes is frequently observed and the cracking pattern is similar to the fragmentation pattern of impact fracture. In the present study, the statistical characteristics of desiccation cracking and physical properties of the paste are examined. Magnesium carbonate (MgCO_3) or calcium carbonate (CaCO_3) powder and water are used to make a paste. The results show that the number of cell caused by cracking increases with decreasing the mass and mass ratio of the paste. The statistical investigation shows that the number of the cell per unit area is proportional to power of the net mass of the paste per unit area. Therefore, power-law is observed in the observed scale. The exponents of the power-law in MgCO_3 paste and CaCO_3 paste are coincide with the coefficients of volume shrinkage.
