Abstract: Composite materials destruction as a “Birth and Death” process of defects with chemical corrosion is discussed. The problem is closely connected with durability of materials in case of their long-term usage in corrosive environment. The statistical concept of the “weakest link” helps to consider a model of completely elastic continuous medium with a layer of small thickness extending to the maximum compression, and dissolution product is a Bingham viscous-plastic liquid filling up the layer. The equation for mathematical expectation of destruction process with continuous time and discrete but limited number of events enables us to estimate a number of defects in accordance with the energy parameters and the entire ideal elastic body, and the time to eventual fracture. One of the possible results of the random of “Birth and Death” process of defects is a total loss of medium strength. Non-destructive methods of strength control by monitoring material conductivity and spectrum of random signals upon the process of “Birth and Death” of defects are suggested.
Keywords: Statistical concept of the “weakest link”, model of medium, elastic modulus, defect, crack, “Birth and Death” process of defects, strength, nondestructive methods