Uncertainty and universality in the power-law singularity as a precursor of catastrophic rupture

The prediction of catastrophic rupture of heterogeneous brittle material has been investigated by researchers in the past. In this work, the acoustic emission generated by marble samples under compression was analyzed to verify a power law singularity of index −1/2 as a catastrophe precursor. It is found that prior to catastrophe, the variation of the system response to the controlling parameter follows a power law of negative index, which proves the power law singularity as a common precursor of catastrophe. However, the power indexes vary with variables and samples. The uncertainty reflects sample specificity of an evolution induced catastrophe (EIC) process.