Transition from damage to fragmentation in collision of solids

We investigate fracture and fragmentation of solids due to impact at low energies using a two-dimensional dynamical model of granular solids. Simulating collisions of two solid disks, we show that, depending on the initial energy, the outcome of a collision process can be classified into two states: a damaged state and a fragmented state, with a sharp transition in between. We give numerical evidence that the transition point between the two states behaves as a critical point, and we discuss the possible mechanism of the transition. [S1063-651X(99)15302-9].