Dynamics of crack opening in a one-dimensional desiccation experiment

We used a simple one-dimensional experiment to investigate the dynamical aspects of crack opening that occurs in clay exposed to shrinkage induced by desiccation. The opening rate of single cracks is obtained. A simple model is introduced to account for the observed behavior. Interaction between adjacent cracks is put into evidence and a collective behavior is observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.