Spiral cracks without twisting

K.-T. Leung, L. Józsa, M. Ravasz and Z. Néda ()
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K.-T. Leung: Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica
L. Józsa: Babes-Bolyai University
M. Ravasz: Babes-Bolyai University
Z. Néda: Babes-Bolyai University

Nature, 2001, vol. 410, issue 6825, 166-166

Abstract: Abstract A fascinating class of patterns, often encountered in nature as meandering cracks on rocks, dried-out fields and tectonic plates, is produced by the fracture of solids1. Here we describe the observation and modelling of an unusual type of pattern consisting of spiral cracks in fragments of a thin layer of drying precipitate. We find that this symmetry-breaking cracking mode arises naturally not from twisting forces, but from a propagating stress front induced by the fold-up of the fragments.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35065517

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