Discrete model for fragmentation with random stopping

In this work, we present the numerical results obtained from large scale pa rallel and distributed simulations of a model for two- and three-dimensiona l discrete fragmentation. Its main features are: (1) uniform and independen t random distribution of the forces that generate the fracture; (2) determi nistic criteria for the fracture process at each step of the fragmentation, based on these forces and a random stopping criteria. By large scale paral lel and distributed simulations, implemented over a heterogeneous network o f high performance computers, different behaviors were obtained for the fra gment size distribution, which includes power law behavior with positive ex ponents for a wide range of the main parameter of the model: the stopping p robability. Also, by a sensitive analysis we prove that the value of the ma in parameter of the model does not affect these results. The power law dist ribution is a non-trivial result which reproduces empirical results of some highly energetic fracture processes. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Scienc e B.V.