Atomistic mechanisms of crack nucleation and propagation in amorphous silica

(Top) Composition map illustrating atoms with higher virial stress at the crack tip, depicting the formation of nanoscale chains comprising an alternate assembly of Si atoms (depicted in blue) and O atoms (depicted in red). (Bottom) Representation of normal stress states at the crack tip, with only atoms exhibiting virial stresses exceeding 50 GPa (depicted in blue) utilized to construct the image, revealing primary tensile stress carrier atoms. The highest stress within the stress-fiber reaches approximately 60 GPa (depicted in red).