Stressed out Tensors

Probably the most frustrating thing to me is the communication gap between different parties. Language barriers are a pain and so much can get lost in translation, for me it's the conflict between myself and Matlab.

I get it. I know the theory, I know whats happening at the infinitesimal level. I know how I want to program the problem. However I don't know how Matlab wants me to program it. It feels like a constant power struggle with Matlab usually winning each battle.

But the payoff is HUGE. Relief just calms your body.

Here are a couple of pictures that illustrate a plate of aluminium being pulled 10MPa (about 1450 pounds per square inch) with a 1mm crack in the middle of the plate. The introduction of a crack creates intense stress concentrations around it. The loops pictured are the regions that have turned plastic. Think of a taffy that won't return to its original state. Basically it means failure. Always good to know.



One of my first solutions. Don't judge a book by its cover, this one is incorrect.



Each line represents a failure plane. Note how the failure planes compliment each other by creating symmetry about the crack point. Nature is messed up sometimes. Weird.