Contact analysis in the presence of an ellipsoidal inhomogeneity within a half space

Many materials contain inhomogeneities or inclusions that may greatly affect their mechanical properties. Such inhomogeneities are for example encountered in the case of composite materials or materials containing precipitates. This paper presents an analysis of contact pressure and subsurface stress field for contact problems in the presence of anisotropic elastic inhomogeneities of ellipsoidal shape. Accounting for any orientation and material properties of the inhomogeneities are the major novelties of this work. The semi-analytical method proposed to solve the contact problem is based on Eshelby’s formalism and uses 2D and 3D Fast Fourier Transforms to speed up the computation. The time and memory necessary are greatly reduced in comparison with the classical finite element method. The model can be seen as an enrichment technique where the enrichment fields from the heterogeneous solution are superimposed to the homogeneous problem. The definition of complex geometries made by combination of inclusions can easily be achieved. A parametric analysis on the effect of elastic properties and geometrical features of the inhomogeneity (size, depth and orientation) is proposed. The model allows to obtain the contact pressure distribution – disturbed by the presence of inhomogeneities – as well as subsurface and matrix/inhomogeneity interface stresses. It is shown that the presence of an inclusion below the contact surface affects significantly the contact pressure and subsurfaces stress distributions when located at a depth lower than 0.7 times the contact radius. The anisotropy directions and material data are also key elements that strongly affect the elastic contact solution. In the case of normal contact between a spherical indenter and an elastic half space containing a single inhomogeneity whose center is located straight below the contact center, the normal stress at the inhomogeneity/matrix interface is mostly compressive. Finally when the axes of the ellipsoidal inclusion do not coincide with the contact problem axes, the pressure distribution is not symmetrical.     

About the Porous Media Flow Through Circular and Elliptical Anisotropic Inhomogeneities

In this article, we describe horizontal groundwater flow due to a uniform flow at infinity around a cylindrical or elliptical inhomogeneity, where the permeability inside the inhomogeneity is anisotropic and different from the isotropic domain outside the inhomogeneity. The orientation of the uniform flow with respect to the orientation of the ellipse is arbitrary as well as the orientation of the anisotropy inside the ellipse. We derive an expression for the ratio of the flow through the ellipse with respect to the flow in the homogeneous case.     

Elastodynamic analysis of inhomogeneous anisotropic bodies

The integral equation method is presented for elastodynamic problems of inhomogeneous anisotropic bodies. Since fundamental solutions are not available for general inhomogeneous anisotropic media, we employ the fundamental solution for homogeneous elastostatics. The terms induced by material inhomogeneity and inertia force are regarded as body forces in elastostatics, and evaluated in the form of volume integrals. The scattering problems of elastic waves by inhomogeneous anisotropic inclusions are investigated for some test cases. Numerical results show the significant effects of inhomogeneity and anisotropy of materials on wave propagations.     

Elasticity solutions for plane anisotropic functionally graded beams

This paper considers the plane stress problem of generally anisotropic beams with elastic compliance parameters being arbitrary functions of the thickness coordinate. Firstly, the partial differential equation, which is satisfied by the Airy stress function for the plane problem of anisotropic functionally graded materials and involves the effect of body force, is derived. Secondly, a unified method is developed to obtain the stress function. The analytical expressions of axial force, bending moment, shear force and displacements are then deduced through integration. Thirdly, the stress function is employed to solve problems of anisotropic functionally graded plane beams, with the integral constants completely determined from boundary conditions. A series of elasticity solutions are thus obtained, including the solution for beams under tension and pure bending, the solution for cantilever beams subjected to shear force applied at the free end, the solution for cantilever beams or simply supported beams subjected to uniform load, the solution for fixed–fixed beams subjected to uniform load, and the one for beams subjected to body force, etc. These solutions can be easily degenerated into the elasticity solutions for homogeneous beams. Some of them are absolutely new to literature, and some coincide with the available solutions. It is also found that there are certain errors in several available solutions. A numerical example is finally presented to show the effect of material inhomogeneity on the elastic field in a functionally graded anisotropic cantilever beam.     

Spatial decay estimates and upper bounds in elasticity for domains with unbounded cross-sections

In this paper we investigate spatial decay estimates and upper bounds for the solutions of elastic problems when the cross-sections of the three dimensional solid are semi-infinite strips. We obtain spatial decay estimates for the solutions of a static problem in the theories of homogeneous and isotropic linear elasticity and linearised elasticity. Energy bounds and some spatial decay estimates are obtained for the solutions of a dynamical problem in the case of anisotropic linear elasticity. For both kinds of problems we use the energy methods.     

A state space formalism and perturbation method for generalized thermoelasticity of anisotropic bodies

A state space formalism for generalized anisotropic thermoelasticity accounting for thermomechanical coupling and thermal relaxation is developed, which includes the classical thermoelasticity as a special case. By properly grouping the field variables using matrix notations, the basic equations of thermoelasticity are formulated into a state equation and an output equation in terms of the state vector. To obtain the solution for a specific problem it suffices to solve the state equation under the prescribed conditions. For weak thermomechanical coupling an asymptotic solution can be obtained by using the method of perturbation with multiple scales. Propagation of plane harmonic thermoelastic waves in an anisotropic medium is studied within the context.     

A general perturbation method for inhomogeneities in anisotropic and piezoelectric solids with applications to quantum-dot nanostructures

By introducing a homogeneous piezoelectric material and its Green’s function, we present a new semi-analytical three-dimensional perturbation method for general inhomogeneity problems in anisotropic and piezoelectric solids. This method removes the limitations associated with previous analytical methods, which often ignore the anisotropic properties or the difference between the material properties of the inhomogeneity and its surrounding matrix. As an important application, the proposed theory is employed to calculate the elastic and electric fields in a truncated pyramidal InAs/GaAs quantum-dot (QD) nanostructure. Numerical results demonstrate that the anisotropy of the materials and the difference between the material constants of the QD and the matrix have a significant influence on the strain and electric fields. The relative differences of the strain and electric field inside the QD between the simplified isotropic and homogeneous model and the real anisotropic and heterogeneous one may reach 22% and 53%, respectively. The accuracy of the calculated elastic strain and electric fields is improved greatly by a second order approximate solution (OAS). Since the third OAS nearly coincides with the second one, good convergence of the iteration procedure is demonstrated. Moreover, contours of the hydrostatic strain and electric potential within and around the QD are also presented and analyzed.     

An inclusion problem

An inclusion is a special region in a material, and this region experiences a transformation of the following nature. If the inclusion were free, then it would acquire a certain deformation with no stress arising in it; but since the inclusion is “pasted” into the material, this prevents free deformations and causes stresses arising in the inclusion itself and in the environment. Three systems of equations describing the problem are derived. For a space with a homogeneous isotropic matrix, an equivalent system of integral equations is obtained whose solution, for a homogeneous anisotropic ellipsoidal inclusion, is reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations. For the case where the moduli of elasticity in the inclusion and the homogeneous matrix coincide, an explicit solution for an inclusion of arbitrary shape is obtained.     

Influence of linearly varying density and rigidity on torsional surface waves in inhomogeneous crustal layer

The present work deals with the possibility of propagation of torsional surface wave in an inhomogeneous crustal layer over an inhomogeneous half space. The layer has inhomogeneity which varies linearly with depth whereas the inhomogeneous half space exhibits inhomogeneity of three types, namely, exponential, quadratic, and hyperbolic discussed separately. The dispersion equation is deduced for each case in a closed form. For a layer over a homogeneous half space, the dispersion equation agrees with the equation of the classical case. It is observed that the inhomogeneity factor due to linear variation in density in the inhomogeneous crustal layer decreases as the phase velocity increases, while the inhomogeneity factor in rigidity has the reverse effect on the phase velocity.     

Complex potential formalisms for bending of inhomogeneous monoclinic plates including transverse shear deformation

This paper develops complex potential formalisms for the solution of the bending problem of inhomogenoeus anisotropic plates, on the basis of the most commonly used refined plate theories. Being an initial step in that direction, it works out such formalisms only in connection with the bending problem of shear deformable homogeneous plates as well as plates having a special type of inhomogeneity along their thickness direction. The adopted type of inhomogeneity is however still general enough to include certain classes of plates made of functionally graded material as well as the classes of cross- and angle-ply symmetric laminates as particular cases. The basic formalism, similar to that developed by Stroh in plane strain elasticity, is detailed in relation with the equilibrium equations of a generalized plate theory that accounts for the effects of transverse shear deformation and includes conventional, refined theories as particular cases. Some interesting specializations, related to the most important of those conventional plate theories, are then presented and discussed separately. Hence, the outlined formalisms provide, for the first time in analytical form, the general solution of the partial differential equations associated with the most commonly used refined, elastic plate theories.     

Homogenization of the equations of the Cosserat theory of elasticity of inhomogeneous bodies

The paper deals with the homogenization of a boundary value problem for an inhomogeneous body with Cosserat properties, which is referred to as the original problem. The homogenization process is understood as a method for representing the solution of the original problem in terms of the solution of precisely the same problem for a body with homogeneous properties. The problem for a body with homogeneous properties is called the accompanying problem, and the body itself, the accompanying homogeneous body. As a rule, a constructive homogenization procedure includes the following three stages: at the first stage, the properties of the inhomogeneous body are used to find the properties of the accompanying homogeneous body (efficient properties); at the second stage, the boundary value problem is solved for the accompanying body; at the third stage, the solution of the accompanying problem is used to find the solution of the original problem. This approach was implemented in mechanics of composite materials constructed of numerous representative elements. A significant contribution to the development of mechanics of composites is due to Rabotnov [1–3] and his students. Recently, the homogenization method has been widely used to solve problems for composites of regular structure by expanding the solution of the original problem in a power series in a small geometric parameter equal to the ratio of the characteristic dimension of the periodicity cell to the characteristic dimension of the entire body. The papers by Bakhvalov [4–6] and Pobedrya [7] were the first in the field. At present, there are numerous monographs partially or completely dealing with the method of a small geometric parameter [8–14]. Isolated problems for inhomogeneous bodies with nonperiodic dependence of their properties on the coordinates were considered by many authors. Most of such papers published before 1973 are collected in two vast bibliographic indices [15, 16]. General methods were considered, and many specific problems of the theory of elasticity of continuously inhomogeneous bodies were solved in Lomakin’s papers and his monograph [17]. The theory of torsion of inhomogeneous anisotropic rods was considered in [18]. In 1991, in his Doctoral dissertation, one of the authors of this paper proposed a version of the homogenization method based on an integral formula representing the solution of the original static problem of inhomogeneous elasticity via the solution of the accompanying problem [19, 20]. An integral formula for the dynamic problem of elasticity was published somewhat later [21]. This integral formula was used to develop a constructive method for the homogenization of the dynamic problem of inhomogeneous elasticity, which can be used in the case of both periodic and nonperiodic inhomogeneity of the properties [22]. The integral formula in the case of the Cosserat theory of elasticity was published in [23]. The present paper briefly presents constructive methods for homogenizing the problems of the Cosserat theory of elasticity based on the integral formula.     

On the problem of integrability of the axisymmetric boundary-value problem of dynamics for an inhomogeneous anisotropic finite cylinder

A closed solution is obtained for the axisymmetric boundary-value problem of dynamics for a finite cylinder with exponential elasticity and inertial inhomogeneity and a certain relationship between elastic constants on the basis of correlations of the linear theory of elasticity of an anisotropic inhomogeneous body. The boundary conditions are arbitrary on the curvilinear surface and are given in mixed form on the ends. The method of finite integral transforms is employed. Specific cases for cylinders of transverscly isotropic and isotropic homogeneous material are discussed. Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Samara, Russia. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 19–29, April, 1999.     

Analysis of vibrations in a nonhomogeneous thermoelastic thin annular disk under dynamic pressure

The forced vibration analysis of nonhomogeneous thermoelastic, isotropic, thin annular disk under periodic and exponential types of axisymmetric dynamic pressures applied on its inner boundary has been performed and analytical benchmark solution has been obtained. The material has been assumed to have inhomogeneity according to a simple power law in the radial coordinate. The present analysis has been worked out in the context of generalized theory of thermoelasticity with one relaxation time. The two coupled partial differential equations have been clubbed and solved by employing Laplace transform technique to obtain the solution for radial displacement and temperature change in the space domain. In order to obtain the solution in physical domain, the inversion of the transform has been carried out by using residue calculus. The radial displacement, radial stress, circumferential stress, and temperature change have been computed numerically for copper material annular disk. The numerically computed results have been presented graphically to demonstrate the effect of two different types of dynamic pressure in reference to homogeneous and nonhomogeneous material disk. The results for homogeneous material disk have been deduced and validated with that available in literature. The closed-form solution obtained here is interesting and allows further parametric studies of nonhomogeneous structures.     

Inplane deformation of a circular inhomogeneity with imperfect interface

The plane elastic problem of a circular inhomogeneity with an imperfect interface of spring-constant-type is reduced to the solution of a Somigliana dislocation problem, when the solution for the corresponding problem with a perfect interface is known. The Burger's vector of the Somigliana dislocation is determined so that its components satisfy two interfacial conditions involving the traction components of the corresponding problem with a perfect interface. Employing complex variables, a two-phase potential solution to the Somigliana dislocation inhomogeneity problem is developed for a general form of the Burger's vector. Detailed results are reported for a uniform eigenstrain in the inhomogeneity, and for a remote uniform heat flow in the matrix. In the latter case, the inhomogeneity behaves as a void, when it begins to slide.     

A three-dimensional inverse problem for inhomogeneities in elastic solids

The Newtonian potential is used to solve an inverse problem in which we seek the shape of an inhomogeneity in an infinite elastic matrix under uniform applied stresses at infinity such that certain stress components are uniform on the boundary of the inhomogeneity. It is shown that ellipsoids furnish the solution of this inverse problem. Exact and general expressions for the stress and displacement are given explicitly for points in the elastic matrix outside the inhomogeneity. The solution of the corresponding plane deformation problem is found as a limiting case. Several applications are presented, and results from the literature are confirmed as special cases.     

Stress State of a Transversely Isotropic Medium with an Arbitrarily Oriented Spheroidal Inclusion

The stress-concentration problem for an elastic transversely isotropic medium containing an arbitrarily oriented spheroidal inclusion (inhomogeneity) is solved. The stress state in the elastic space is represented as the superposition of the principal state and the perturbed state due to the inhomogeneity. The problem is solved using the equivalent-inclusion method, the triple Fourier transform in space variables, and the Fourier-transformed Green function for an infinite anisotropic medium. Double integrals over a finite domain are evaluated using the Gaussian quadrature formulas. In special cases, the results are compared with those obtained by other authors. The influence of the geometry and orientation of the inclusion and the elastic properties of the medium and inclusion on the stress concentration is studied__________Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 33–40, February 2005.     

A state space formalism for anisotropic elasticity. Part I: Rectilinear anisotropy

A state space formalism for anisotropic elasticity including the thermal effect is developed. A salient feature of the formalism is that it bridges the compliance-based and stiffness-based formalisms in a natural way. The displacement and stress components and the thermoelastic constants of a general anisotropic elastic material appear explicitly in the formulation, yet it is simple and clear. This is achieved by using the matrix notation to express the basic equations and grouping the stress in such a way that it enables us to cast neatly the three-dimensional equations of anisotropic elasticity into a compact state equation and an output equation. The homogeneous solution to the state equation for the generalized plane problem leads naturally to the eigen relation and the sextic equation of Stroh. Extension, twisting, bending, temperature change and body forces are accounted for through the particular solution. Based on the formalism the general solution for generalized plane strain and generalized torsion of an anisotropic elastic body are determined in an elegant manner.     

The macroscopic coefficients of thermal conductivity and diffusion in microinhomogeneous solids

A method is given for calculating the macroscopic coefficients of thermal conductivity and diffusion for microinhomogeneous solids whose local coefficients of thermal conductivity (or diffusion) form an ergodic homogeneous stray field. In the case of marked isotropy of the field of the local coefficients, the calculations are taken to a conclusion. The final formulas for the structure are not much more complicated than the corresponding first-approximation formulas. The results of calculations for certain other cases are also given. The effect of anisotropy of the crystallites in polycrystalline material on the coefficients of thermal conductivity and diffusion is discussed.One of the main problems in the mechanics of microinhomogeneous bodies is the determination of the macroscopic constants from the corresponding microscopic characteristics. The assumption regarding the small inhomogeneity used by a number of authors [1, 2] is not applicable in the case of isotropic polycrystalline aggregates consisting of substantially anisotropic crystallites, stochastic reinforced media media, etc. The so-called self-consistent field method [3] opens up some interesting prospects, but this method is an approximate one and its errors have not yet been assessed. Nevertheless, by making certain fairly general assumptions about the correlation properties of the inhomogeneity, it is possible to obtain final accurate formulas for such macroscopic properties of the solids as the coefficients of thermal conductivity, diffusion, elasticity, and thermal expansion. Below we consider some of the simplest problems involved in determining the macroscopic constants which form a second-order tensor and which characterize the distribution of a certain scalar quantity in a microinhomogeneous body.     

Analysis of One-Dimensional Advection–Diffusion Model with Variable Coefficients Describing Solute Transport in a Porous medium

This work presents the analytical solution and temporal moments of one-dimensional advection–diffusion model with variable coefficients. Two case studies along with the two different sets of boundary conditions are considered at the inlet and outlet of the domain. In the first case, a time-dependent solute dispersion in the homogeneous domain along uniform flow is taken into account, whereas in the second case, due to inhomogeneity of domain, velocity is taken spatially dependent and the dispersion is assumed proportional to the square of the velocity. The Laplace transform is used to obtain the analytical solutions. The analytical temporal moments are derived from the Laplace domain solutions. To verify the correctness of the analytical solutions, a high-resolution second-order finite volume scheme is applied. Different case studies are considered and discussed. Both analytical and numerical results are in good agreement with each other.     

Inhomogeneous elastostatic problem solutions constructed from stress-associated homogeneous solutions

In this paper, we present a theorem that provides solutions for anisotropic and inhomogeneous elastostatic problems by using the known solution of an associated anisotropic and homogeneous problem if the associated problem has a stress state with a zero eigenvalue everywhere in the domain of the problem. The fundamental property on which this stress-associated solution (SAS) theorem is built is the coaxiality of the eigenvector associated with the zero stress eigenvalue in the homogeneous problem and the gradient of the scalar function ? characterizing the inhomogeneous character of the inhomogeneous problem. It is shown that most of the solutions of anisotropic elastic problems presented in the literature have this property and, therefore, it is possible to use the SAS theorem to construct new exact solutions for inhomogeneous problems, as well as to find—using the SAS theorem—solutions for the shape intrinsic and angularly inhomogeneous problems.