This contribution addresses what can be learnt from our recent experimental observations of dynamic fracture development in brittle solid materials with real three-dimensional configurations. It is pointed out that the three-dimensional dynamic behaviour of (quasi-)brittle solids is essentially different not only from the one-dimensional dynamic one but also from the three-dimensional static one. The experimental observations include those of cylindrical concrete columns pressurized by deflagration at the centre and ice spheres subjected to dynamic impact at the bottom. Surprisingly, plain fracture patterns can be found through these experiments, but it does not seem simple to describe or predict the involved physical process by conventional analytical treatment or numerical simulations. Indeed, our understanding of mechanical details of actual three-dimensional fracture is still limited, especially in dynamic cases where the length scale of fracture and relevant waves is of the order of the size of solids under consideration. Although a more sophisticated physical interpretation including the dynamic interaction of waves in a relatively high-frequency range is required, the discussed dynamics of three-dimensional fracture development will assist in generating precisely controlled dynamic fracture networks that can be used for practical purposes of dismantling solid structural components and mitigating risks of catastrophic failures.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fracture dynamics of solid materials: from particles to the globe’.

这一贡献解决了从我们最近对具有真实三维结构的脆性固体材料中动态裂缝发展的实验观察中可以学到的东西。需要指出的是，（准）脆性固体的三维动力学行为不仅与一维动态动力学本质上不同，而且与三维静态动力学本质上也不同。实验观察包括在中心通过爆燃加压的圆柱混凝土柱以及在底部受到动态冲击的冰球。出乎意料的是，可以通过这些实验找到平原的破裂模式，但是通过常规的分析处理或数值模拟来描述或预测所涉及的物理过程似乎并不简单。的确，我们对实际三维断裂的机械细节的理解仍然有限，尤其是在动态情况下，断裂的长度尺度和相关波的大小约为所考虑的固体大小。尽管需要更复杂的物理解释，包括相对较高频率范围内波的动态相互作用，但所讨论的三维裂缝发展动力学将有助于生成可精确控制的动态裂缝网络，这些网络可用于拆除固体的实际目的。结构组件和减轻灾难性故障的风险。

本文是主题主题“固体材料的断裂动力学：从粒子到地球”的一部分。