Statistical aspects in crack growth phenomena: how the fluctuations reveal the failure mechanisms

Material failure often gives rise to strong fluctuations that reflect on the rough trajectory followed by cracks and on their intermittent dynamics. Deciphering these fluctuations is a major challenge as they reveal how cracks interact with the material microstructure. Here, we illustrate through recent studies how the statistical properties of these fluctuations shed light on the elementary failure mechanisms taking place at the microstructure scale. The implications of these findings in terms of material characterization and failure analysis are discussed and some promising directions for future investigations are presented.