The rheological properties and fracture of a molecular dynamic simulation of sodium silicate glass

Abstract

We extend earlier molecular dynamic calculations to a study of the rheological properties and failure of sodium silicate glass. Under biaxial compressions glass flow and stress relaxation are observed. The simulated glass ‘‘breaks’’ by forming cavities when subjected to a sudden large biaxial expansion. A microscopic model of a fiber behaves elastically up to stresses of near one million psi and then breaks with significant plastic deformation. The strength of the fiber is related to the ultimate strength of the glass. Under severe uniaxial compression the microscopic fiber undergoes a change in its atomic structure to a layered structure.