Self-affine properties of fractures in brittle materials

We present the result of numerical simulations for a fracturing process in a three-dimensional solid subjected to a mode-I load in a quasi-static regi me. The solid is described using the Born model on an FCC lattice with a st arting notch. We obtain a value of the roughness exponent zeta similar or e qual to 0.5 in agreement with the value measured in microfracturing experim ents. Our result supports the idea that at small length scales the fracturi ng process can be considered as quasi-static, which is the basic of the pos sible application of the model of line depinning to the case of fractures. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.