Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 329
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30471-9

Colloquium

Current challenges for statistical physics in fracture and plasticity

CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, IENI, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125 Milano, Italy ISI Foundation, Via Alassio 11C, 10133 Torino, Italy

^a e-mail: stefano.zapperi@cnr.it

Received: 13 June 2012
Published online: 24 September 2012

Abstract

Statistical physics has been applied in the last decades to several problems in mechanics, including fracture and plasticity. Concept drawn from percolation, fractal geometry, phase-transitions, and interface depinning have been used with varying degrees of success to understand these problems. In this colloquium, I describe recent successes and current challenging problems for statistical physics in fracture and plasticity, focusing on the roughness of cracks, fracture size effects and micron-scale plasticity.