Crack Surface Energy: Temperature and Force Dependence

Abstract

Fracture surface energy is calculated for a one-dimensional exactly solvable model for tensile cracks. Temperature- and force-dependendent crack surface tension is obtained on the basis of the self-consistent Einstein approach. Equilibrium lattice vibrations result in strong reduction of crack surface tension. In stark contrast to the Griffth concept, surface tension is a crack-size-dependent quantity in the nanoscale range.