Self-similar pattern formation and continuous mechanics of self-similar systems
Résumé
The presence of self-similar distributions of fractures in a material poses a challenge in continuum modelling, since this material becomes discontinuous at any scale. We develop a continuum fractal mechanics to model mechanical behaviour of such materials. We introduce a continuous sequence of continua of increasing scales covering this range of scales. The continuum of each scale is specified by the representative volume elements of the corresponding size over which averaging is performed in the process of defining the field variables in the continuum. Subsequently, at each scale the material is modelled by a continuum that hides the cracks of smaller scales while explicitly introducing larger structural elements. The properties assigned to the continuum are effective characteristics accounting for the macroscopic effect of the hidden cracks.
Using the developed formalism we investigate the stability of self-similar crack distributions with respect to crack growth and show that while the self-similar distribution of isotropically oriented cracks is stable, the distribution of parallel cracks is not. For the isotropically oriented cracks scaling of permeability is determined. For the crack distribution produced by the action of stress fluctuations permeability increases as cube of crack radius. This property could be used for detecting this specific mechanism of formation of self-similar crack distributions.