Formation of power-law size distributions of defects during fracture of materials

The experimental data on the surface relief of loaded ribbons of an amorphous alloy have been obtained. The distributions of surface defects formed under loading have been analyzed using the wavelet transform and box counting method. Moreover, the data on the time accumulation of microcracks in the volume of a loaded granite specimen have been examined. It has been shown that power-law size distributions of defects (scaling) appear on the surface and in the bulk before fracture. It has been revealed that the appearance of the power-law distributions is one of the indications of the formation of the self-organized critical state. The formation of the self-organized critical state in the bulk and on the surface of the material has been considered. It has been established that the formation of the self-organized critical state precedes the fracture of a solid.