Eur. Phys. J. E 3, 395-401
Fracture energy of gels
Y. Tanaka1 - K. Fukao2 - Y. Miyamoto2
1Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Kosugi-machi,
Toyama 939-0398, Japan
2Department of Fundamental Sciences, Faculty of
Integrated Human Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
Received 8 March 2000 and Received in final form 7 July 2000
Abstract
To clarify effects of crack speed
and cross-link density on the fracture energy of acrylamide gels,
we evaluated the roughness of the fracture surface
and measured the fracture energy taking into account the roughness.
The fracture energy increases linearly with crack speed Vin a fast crack speed region, and the increasing rate of
fracture energy with V
decreases with increasing cross-link density in the gels.
In a slow crack speed region the fracture energy
depends on crack speed more strongly than in the fast crack speed region.
This indicates that a qualitative change exists
in the fracture process of the gels.
PACS
61.41.+e Polymers, elastomers, and plastics -
62.20.Mk Fatigue, brittleness, fracture, and cracks -
83.10.Nn Polymer dynamics
Copyright EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag
