Eur. Phys. J. E 1, 189-194
Experimental model of cracking induced by drying shrinkage
H. Colina1 - S. Roux2
1 Laboratoire Environnement, Gomcanique et Ouvrages,
B.P. 40, 54501 Vand
uvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
and
Universidad Nacional de Salta
Buenos Aires 177, 4400 Salta, Argentina
2 Laboratoire "Surface du Verre et Interfaces'',
B.P. 135, 93303 Aubervilliers Cedex, France
stephane.roux@sgr.saint-gobain.com
Received 19 April 1999
Abstract
Drying induced shrinkage in materials may yield the formation of
surface crack patterns. We report on various experimental observations
of the geometry of the crack array and the kinetics of crack formation
on a model system consisting of a layer of a paste made of clay, sand,
and water deposited on a rigid substrate. We investigate in detail the
influence of the layer geometry (size and thickness).
PACS
92.40.Lg Soil moisture -
46.50.+a Fracture mechanics, fatigue and cracks -
46.65.+g Random phenomena and media
Copyright EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag
