Material brittle fracture owing to thermoelastic effect of high energy nuclear particle

Rapid arising of the overheated domain near very heavy ion path (near fast neutron collision point) in a solid results in generation of cylinder (spherical) thermoelastic stress wave. The latter can exceed the material strength and cause brittle fracture at going out on the free body interface. Size and shape of an erosion zone as well as erosion rate for both sorts of primary nuclear particles are found. The role of wave attenuation is discussed. The products of erosion are of macroscopic scale particles having the typical thickness (1÷5)·10^-7 cm, and mass 10^-18÷10^-17 g. Such ion (neutron)-stimulated thermoacoustic grinding can take place in radioactive materials with fissionable addenda. The consideration of the brittle destruction under cosmic ray bombardment may be essential for equipment of deep space missions