Morphology of fractured domains in brittle fracture

We propose a thermodynamic approach, allowing one to determine the shape of the intensively fractured zones (IFZs), simultaneously with the distribution of stress and strain within the IFZ appearing in brittle fracture. The approach combines Gibbs' variational paradigm of the theory of heterogeneous systems with Griffith's variational paradigm of the theory of brittle fracture. We suggest some simple constitutive models for solid substances undergoing brittle fracture and solve some boundary value problems on nucleation of an isolated IFZ within an isotropic elastic material.