LeidenForceLiquids are usually expected to flow continuously. But under strong extensional stress, viscosity alone can trigger sudden, fracture-like failure.
Could this help control flows in hydraulics, 3D printing, or even blood vessels?
đź”— https://phys.org/news/2026-03-liquids-fracture-solids.html
#FluidMechanics #Rheology #SoftMatter #FracturePhysics #Biofluidics
Liquids can fracture like solids—researchers discover the breaking point
In a development that could shift our basic understanding of fluid mechanics, researchers from Drexel University have reported that, given the right circumstances, it is possible to induce a simple liquid to fracture like a solid object. Recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the research shows how viscous liquids can suddenly break if stretched with enough force.