Fracture Patterns in Sumi-Wari: A Study of Surface Tension and Film Mechanics

This paper investigates the fascinating fracture patterns of Sumi-Wari, a traditional Japanese art form. It connects the aesthetic patterns to fundamental physics, specifically the interplay of surface tension, subphase viscosity, and film mechanics. The study's strength lies in its experimental validation and the development of a phenomenological model that accurately captures the observed behavior. The findings provide insights into how material properties and environmental factors influence fracture dynamics in thin films, which could have implications for materials science and other fields.

• •Sumi-Wari patterns are influenced by surface tension gradients.
• •Subphase viscosity affects the number of crack spikes.
• •A phenomenological model accurately simulates the fracture dynamics.
• •The study highlights the coupling between subphase properties and film mechanics.