Chemical fracture statistics and universal distribution of extreme values

When a corrosive solution reaches the limits of a solid sample, a chemical fracture occurs. An analytical theory for the probability of this chemical fracture is proposed and confirmed by extensive numerical experiments on a two-dimensional model. This theory follows from the general probability theory of extreme events given by Gumbel. The analytic law differs from the Weibull law commonly used to describe mechanical failures for brittle materials. However, a three-parameter fit with the Weibull law gives good results, confirming the empirical value of this kind of analysis.