Abstract
Both in laboratories and in the field, explosives are usually utilized as energy sources in order to produce impact-induced fracture of solids. However, it is not simple to detonate explosives in urban areas. In this study, instead of explosives, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulses are used as energy sources to perform laboratory fracture experiments: Laser pulses can be more safely and digitally handled. Crack extension patterns in acrylic sheets produced by laser pulses are compared with those generated by detonating explosives. Like in detonation-produced fractures, not only the "crush zone" in the vicinity of the energy source but also the radial cracks can be recognized in laser-induced fracture patterns, but the cracks develop rather quasi-statically upon irradiation of laser pulses.
