I prefer to think of it in terms of critical size.
Eventually a crack will reach a critical size, and the structure will suddenly fracture.
If the cracks reach a critical size, the component can suddenly fracture, sometimes with disastrous results.
The critical size must at least include enough fissionable material to reach critical mass.
Nolan defined the critical size of the company as the most prevalent reason for computer acquisition.
The phenomenon tends to occur in groups of people above a certain critical size and when responsibility is not explicitly assigned.
There is a critical size beyond which the little mass crystal becomes stable and will no longer dissolve.
Therefore, the clusters need to reach a critical size in order to become stable nuclei.
When they reach a critical size, the rail fails.
In order for the nucleus of a new phase to be stable, it must reach a critical size.