The dynamics of unsteady frictional slip pulses.

Self-healing slip pulses are major spatiotemporal failure modes of frictional systems, featuring a characteristic size [Formula: see text] and a propagation velocity [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] is time). Here, we develop a theory of slip pulses in realistic rate- and state-dependent frictional systems. We show that slip pulses are intrinsically unsteady objects-in agreement with previous findings-yet their dynamical evolution is closely related to their unstable steady-state counterparts. In particular, we show that each point along the time-independent [Formula: see text] line, obtained from a family of steady-state pulse solutions parameterized by the driving shear stress [Formula: see text], is unstable. Nevertheless, and remarkably, the [Formula: see text] line is a dynamic attractor such that the unsteady dynamics of slip pulses (when they exist)-whether growing ([Formula: see text]) or decaying ([Formula: see text])-reside on the steady-state line. The unsteady dynamics along the line are controlled by a single slow unstable mode. The slow dynamics of growing pulses, manifested by [Formula: see text], explain the existence of sustained pulses, i.e., pulses that propagate many times their characteristic size without appreciably changing their properties. Our theoretical picture of unsteady frictional slip pulses is quantitatively supported by large-scale, dynamic boundary-integral method simulations.

Self-healing solitonic slip pulses in frictional systems.

A prominent spatiotemporal failure mode of frictional systems is self-healing slip pulses, which are propagating solitonic structures that feature a characteristic length. Here, we numerically derive a family of steady state slip pulse solutions along generic and realistic rate-and-state dependent frictional interfaces, separating large deformable bodies in contact. Such nonlinear interfaces feature a nonmonotonic frictional strength as a function of the slip velocity, with a local minimum. The solutions exhibit a diverging length and strongly inertial propagation velocities, when the driving stress approaches the frictional strength characterizing the local minimum from above, and change their character when it is away from it. An approximate scaling theory quantitatively explains these observations. The derived pulse solutions also exhibit significant spatially-extended dissipation in excess of the edge-localized dissipation (the effective fracture energy) and an unconventional edge singularity. The relevance of our findings for available observations is discussed.

Unconventional singularities and energy balance in frictional rupture.

A widespread framework for understanding frictional rupture, such as earthquakes along geological faults, invokes an analogy to ordinary cracks. A distinct feature of ordinary cracks is that their near edge fields are characterized by a square root singularity, which is intimately related to the existence of strict dissipation-related lengthscale separation and edge-localized energy balance. Yet, the interrelations between the singularity order, lengthscale separation and edge-localized energy balance in frictional rupture are not fully understood, even in physical situations in which the conventional square root singularity remains approximately valid. Here we develop a macroscopic theory that shows that the generic rate-dependent nature of friction leads to deviations from the conventional singularity, and that even if this deviation is small, significant non-edge-localized rupture-related dissipation emerges. The physical origin of the latter, which is predicted to vanish identically in the crack analogy, is the breakdown of scale separation that leads an accumulated spatially-extended dissipation, involving macroscopic scales. The non-edge-localized rupture-related dissipation is also predicted to be position dependent. The theoretical predictions are quantitatively supported by available numerical results, and their possible implications for earthquake physics are discussed.

Unstable Slip Pulses and Earthquake Nucleation as a Nonequilibrium First-Order Phase Transition.

The onset of rapid slip along initially quiescent frictional interfaces, the process of "earthquake nucleation," and dissipative spatiotemporal slippage dynamics play important roles in a broad range of physical systems. Here we first show that interfaces described by generic friction laws feature stress-dependent steady-state slip pulse solutions, which are unstable in the quasi-1D approximation of thin elastic bodies. We propose that such unstable slip pulses of linear size L^{*} and characteristic amplitude are "critical nuclei" for rapid slip in a nonequilibrium analogy to equilibrium first-order phase transitions and quantitatively support this idea by dynamical calculations. We then perform 2D numerical calculations that indicate that the nucleation length L^{*} exists also in 2D and that the existence of a fracture mechanics Griffith-like length L_{G}

Inhibition of Rayleigh-Plateau instability on a unidirectionally patterned substrate.

A fundamental process of surface energy minimization is the decay of a wire into separate droplets initiated by the Rayleigh-Plateau instability. Here we study the linear stability of a wire deposited on a unidirectionally patterned substrate with the wire being aligned with the pattern. We show that the wire is stable when a criterion that involves its width and the local geometry of the substrate at the triple line is fulfilled. We present this criterion for an arbitrary shape of the substrate and then give explicit examples. Our result is rationalized using a correspondence between the Rayleigh-Plateau instability and the spinodal decomposition. This work provides a theoretical tool for an appropriate design of the substrate's pattern in order to achieve stable wires of, in principle, arbitrary widths.

Velocity-strengthening friction significantly affects interfacial dynamics, strength and dissipation.

Frictional interfaces abound in natural and man-made systems, yet their dynamics are not well-understood. Recent extensive experimental data have revealed that velocity-strengthening friction, where the steady-state frictional resistance increases with sliding velocity over some range, is a generic feature of such interfaces. This physical behavior has very recently been linked to slow stick-slip motion. Here we elucidate the importance of velocity-strengthening friction by theoretically studying three variants of a realistic friction model, all featuring identical logarithmic velocity-weakening friction at small sliding velocities, but differ in their higher velocity behaviors. By quantifying energy partition (e.g. radiation and dissipation), the selection of interfacial rupture fronts and rupture arrest, we show that the presence or absence of strengthening significantly affects the global interfacial resistance and the energy release during frictional instabilities. Furthermore, we show that different forms of strengthening may result in events of similar magnitude, yet with dramatically different dissipation and radiation rates. This happens because the events are mediated by rupture fronts with vastly different propagation velocities, where stronger velocity-strengthening friction promotes slower rupture. These theoretical results may have significant implications on our understanding of frictional dynamics.

Achieving realistic interface kinetics in phase-field models with a diffusional contrast.

Phase-field models are powerful tools to tackle free-boundary problems. For phase transformations involving diffusion, the evolution of the nonconserved phase field is coupled to the evolution of the conserved diffusion field. Introducing the kinetic cross coupling between these two fields [E. A. Brener and G. Boussinot, Phys. Rev. E 86, 060601(R) (2012)], we solve the long-standing problem of a realistic description of interface kinetics when a diffusional contrast between the phases is taken into account. Using the case of the solidification of a pure substance, we show how to eliminate the temperature jump at the interface and to recover full equilibrium boundary conditions. We confirm our results by numerical simulations.

Scaling theory of two-phase dendritic growth in undercooled ternary melts.

Two-phase dendrites are needlelike crystals with a eutectic internal structure growing during solidification of ternary alloys. We present a scaling theory of these objects based on Ivantsov's theory of dendritic growth and the Jackson-Hunt theory of eutectic growth. The additional introduction of the relationship ρ∼λ (ρ: dendrite tip radius; λ: eutectic interphase spacing) suggested by recent experimental results [S. Akamatsu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 056101 (2010)] leads to a complete solution of theselection problem and to the scaling rule ρ∼λ -1/2 (v: dendrite tip growth rate).

Interface kinetics in phase-field models: isothermal transformations in binary alloys and step dynamics in molecular-beam epitaxy.

We present a unified description of interface kinetic effects in phase-field models for isothermal transformations in binary alloys and steps dynamics in molecular-beam-epitaxy. The phase-field equations of motion incorporate a kinetic cross-coupling between the phase field and the concentration field. This cross-coupling generalizes the phenomenology of kinetic effects and was omitted until recently in classical phase-field models. We derive general expressions (independent of the details of the phase-field model) for the kinetic coefficients within the corresponding macroscopic approach using a physically motivated reduction procedure. The latter is equivalent to the so-called thin-interface limit but is technically simpler. It involves the calculation of the effective dissipation that can be ascribed to the interface in the phase-field model. We discuss in detail the possibility of a nonpositive definite matrix of kinetic coefficients, i.e., a negative effective interface dissipation, although being in the range of stability of the underlying phase-field model. Numerically we study the step-bunching instability in molecular-beam-epitaxy due to the Ehrlich-Schwoebel effect, present in our model due to the cross-coupling. Using the reduction procedure we compare the results of the phase-field simulations with the analytical predictions of the macroscopic approach.

Instabilities at frictional interfaces: creep patches, nucleation, and rupture fronts.

The strength and stability of frictional interfaces, ranging from tribological systems to earthquake faults, are intimately related to the underlying spatially extended dynamics. Here we provide a comprehensive theoretical account, both analytic and numeric, of spatiotemporal interfacial dynamics in a realistic rate-and-state friction model, featuring both velocity-weakening and velocity-strengthening behaviors. Slowly extending, loading-rate-dependent creep patches undergo a linear instability at a critical nucleation size, which is nearly independent of interfacial history, initial stress conditions, and velocity-strengthening friction. Nonlinear propagating rupture fronts-the outcome of instability-depend sensitively on the stress state and velocity-strengthening friction. Rupture fronts span a wide range of propagation velocities and are related to steady-state-front solutions.

Onsager approach to the one-dimensional solidification problem and its relation to the phase-field description.

We give a general phenomenological description of the steady-state 1D front propagation problem in two cases: the solidification of a pure material and the isothermal solidification of two-component dilute alloys. The solidification of a pure material is controlled by the heat transport in the bulk and the interface kinetics. The isothermal solidification of two-component alloys is controlled by the diffusion in the bulk and the interface kinetics. We find that the condition of positive-definiteness of the symmetric Onsager matrix of interface kinetic coefficients still allows an arbitrary sign of the slope of the velocity-concentration line near the solidus in the alloy problem or of the velocity-temperature line in the case of solidification of a pure material. This result offers a very simple and elegant way to describe the interesting phenomenon of a possible non-single-value behavior of velocity versus concentration that has previously been discussed by different approaches. We also discuss the relation of this Onsager approach to the thin-interface limit of the phase-field description.

Kinetic cross coupling between nonconserved and conserved fields in phase field models.

We present a phase field model for isothermal transformations of two-component alloys that includes Onsager kinetic cross coupling between the nonconserved phase field and the conserved concentration field ø C. We also provide the reduction of the phase field model to the corresponding macroscopic description of the free boundary problem. The reduction is given in a general form. Additionally we use an explicit example of a phase field model and check that the reduced macroscopic description, in the range of its applicability, is in excellent agreement with direct phase field simulations. The relevance of the newly introduced terms to solute trapping is also discussed.

Slow cracklike dynamics at the onset of frictional sliding.

We propose a friction model which incorporates interfacial elasticity and whose steady state sliding relation is characterized by a generic nonmonotonic behavior, including both velocity weakening and strengthening branches. In 1D and upon the application of sideway loading, we demonstrate the existence of transient cracklike fronts whose velocity is independent of sound speed, which we propose to be analogous to the recently discovered slow interfacial rupture fronts. Most importantly, the properties of these transient inhomogeneously loaded fronts are determined by steady state front solutions at the minimum of the sliding friction law, implying the existence of a new velocity scale and a "forbidden gap" of rupture velocities. We highlight the role played by interfacial elasticity and supplement our analysis with 2D scaling arguments.

Influence of strain on the kinetics of phase transitions in solids.

We consider a sharp interface kinetic model of phase transitions accompanied by elastic strain, together with its phase-field realization. Quantitative results for the steady-state growth of a new phase in a strip geometry are obtained, and different pattern formation processes in this system are investigated.

Elastic domains in antiferromagnets on substrates.

We consider periodic domain structures which appear due to the magnetoelastic interaction if the antiferromagnetic crystal is attached to an elastic substrate. The peculiar behavior of such structures in an external magnetic field is discussed. In particular, we find the magnetic field dependence of the equilibrium period and the concentrations of different domains.

Velocity-selection problem for combined motion of melting and solidification fronts.

We discuss a free boundary problem for two moving solid-liquid interfaces that strongly interact via the diffusion field in the liquid layer between them. This problem arises in the context of liquid film migration (LFM) during the partial melting of solid alloys. In the LFM mechanism the system chooses a more efficient kinetic path which is controlled by diffusion in the liquid film, whereas the process with only one melting front would be controlled by the very slow diffusion in the mother solid phase. The relatively weak coherency strain energy is the effective driving force for LFM. As in the classical dendritic growth problems, also in this case an exact family of steady-state solutions with two parabolic fronts and an arbitrary velocity exists if capillary effects are neglected [D. E. Temkin, Acta Mater. 53, 2733 (2005)]. We develop a velocity-selection theory for this problem, including anisotropic surface tension effects.

Fast crack propagation by surface diffusion.

We present a continuum theory which describes the fast growth of a crack by surface diffusion. This mechanism overcomes the usual cusp singularity by a self-consistent selection of the crack tip radius. It predicts the saturation of the steady state crack velocity appreciably below the Rayleigh speed and tip blunting. Furthermore, it includes the possibility of a tip splitting instability for high applied tensions.