Crack path competition and biomimetic toughening strategy in soda-lime glass: Experimental study and phase-field simulation

Catastrophic fracture in brittle materials has brought persistent challenges in engineering applications. The geometry-induced competition mechanisms as well as the toughening design strategies were limited. In this work, the fracture behavior of soda-lime glass plates was investigated through a combined approach of experimental testing and phase-field numerical simulation. Linear groove defects with varying thickness and inclination angles were introduced to manipulate the crack trajectory and load response. Three representative fracture modes, including Complete deflection, Partial deflection, and Penetration, were observed and the inner competition mechanisms were clarified. Then, a bio-inspired trapezoidal groove structure was proposed and its toughening effect was discussed, which provided a geometrically tunable strategy for crack guidance and toughening. This study revealed the intrinsic mechanisms behind crack path competition in brittle materials. It also provided a practical applicable method for the toughening design of brittle structures.