We are interested in the interaction between cracks in elastic media. This interaction rules the geometry ofsome patterns found in rocks, soils and many other places. We explore the physics of this interaction in two dimensions where tools from complex analysis, like conformal mappings simplifies a lot the mathematical complexities of the problem and are very useful to understand at least part of the phenomena.

People involved:
Felipe Barra (Universidad de Chile).
Enrique Cerda (Universidad de Santiago).

References:
"Fracture of Brittle Solids", Lawn, B. R., and Wilshaw, 1975. Cambridge University Press.