Griffith Crack — Energy Release

Griffith's 1921 criterion: a crack propagates when the elastic strain energy released equals the surface energy cost. Adjust applied stress and crack length to explore the energy balance and critical instability.

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Strain Energy Released (U_E)

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Surface Energy (U_S)

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Total ΔU

Critical Crack a_c (mm)

Applied Stress σ: 60 MPa Crack Half-length a: 20 mm Surface Energy γ: 5.0 J/m² Young's E: 200 GPa

Griffith: a_c = (2Eγ)/(πσ²) | G_c = 2γ | K_Ic = √(EG_c) | Crack grows when dU/da < 0