cohesive zone model

A cohesive zone model is a way engineers understand how materials break or detach. It simulates the process where tiny cracks form and grow between parts of a material under stress. Instead of instant failure, the model depicts a gradual process where the material's internal strength lessens as cracks develop, creating a "cohesive zone." This helps predict how and where a material might fail, informing safer designs by accounting for the way materials behave just before breaking. It's like watching the cracks slowly form and spread, rather than assuming a sudden break.