Phase transitions in load transfer models of fracture

The possible parallelism existing between phase transitions and fracture in disordered materials is discussed using the well-known fiber bundle models and a probabilistic approach suited to smooth fluctuations near the critical point. Two limiting cases of load redistribution are analyzed: the global transfer scheme, and the local transfer rule. The models are then studied and contrasted by defining the branching ratio as an order parameter indicative of the distance of the system to the critical point. In the case of long range interactions, i.e., the global rule, the results indicate that fracture can be seen as a second-order phase transition, whereas for the case of short range interactions (the local transfer rule) the bundle fails suddenly with no prior significant precursory activity signaling the imminent collapse of the system, this case being a first-order like phase transition.