Fractal mini-max principle in fragmentation related to fracture

Two asymptotic representations of power-law probability distribution of fra gment size corresponding to small and large amounts of the impact energy ar e considered in the light of a fractal mini-max principle, applied to the e lastic wavefront just before fragmentation. Good agreement between these as ymptotics and data of isotropic three-dimensional observations, laboratory experiments and numerical simulations is established. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.