Some new classes of inverse coefficient problems in non-linear mechanics and computational material science

Three classes of inverse coefficient problems arising in engineering mechanics and computational material science are considered. Mathematical models of all considered problems are proposed within the J₂-deformation theory of plasticity. The first class is related to the determination of unknown elastoplastic properties of a beam from a limited number of torsional experiments. The inverse problem here consists of identifying the unknown coefficient g(ξ²) (plasticity function) in the non-linear differential equation of torsional creep −(g(|∇u|²)u_x1)_x1−(g(|∇u|²)u_x2)_x2=2?, x∈Ω⊂R², from the torque (or torsional rigidity) T(?), given experimentally. The second class of inverse problems is related to the identification of elastoplastic properties of a 3D body from spherical indentation tests. In this case one needs to determine unknown Lame coefficients in the system of PDEs of non-linear elasticity, from the measured spherical indentation loading curve P=P(α), obtained during the quasi-static indentation test. In the third model an inverse problem of identifying the unknown coefficient g(ξ²(u)) in the non-linear bending equation is analyzed. The boundary measured data here is assumed to be the deflections w_i[τ_k]?w(λ_i;τ_k), measured during the quasi-static bending process, given by the parameter τ_k, , at some points , of a plate. An existence of weak solutions of all direct problems are derived in appropriate Sobolev spaces, by using monotone potential operator theory. Then monotone iteration schemes for all the linearized direct problems are proposed. Strong convergence of solutions of the linearized problems, as well as rates of convergence is proved. Based on obtained continuity property of the direct problem solution with respect to coefficients, and compactness of the set of admissible coefficients, an existence of quasi-solutions of all considered inverse problems is proved. Some numerical results, useful from the points of view of engineering mechanics and computational material science, are demonstrated.     

Boundary conditions in small-deformation, single-crystal plasticity that account for the Burgers vector

This paper discusses boundary conditions appropriate to a theory of single-crystal plasticity (Gurtin, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 50 (2002) 5) that includes an accounting for the Burgers vector through energetic and dissipative dependences on the tensor G=curlH^p, with H^p the plastic part in the additive decomposition of the displacement gradient into elastic and plastic parts. This theory results in a flow rule in the form of N coupled second-order partial differential equations for the slip-rates , and, consequently, requires higher-order boundary conditions. Motivated by the virtual-power principle in which the external power contains a boundary-integral linear in the slip-rates, hard-slip conditions in which

(A)

on a subsurface S_hard of the boundary

for all slip systems α are proposed. In this paper we develop a theory that is consistent with that of (Gurtin, 2002), but that leads to an external power containing a boundary-integral linear in the tensor , a result that motivates replacing (A) with the microhard condition

(B)

on the subsurface S_hard.

We show that, interestingly, (B) may be interpreted as the requirement that there be no flow of the Burgers vector across S_hard.What is most important, we establish uniqueness for the underlying initial/boundary-value problem associated with (B); since the conditions (A) are generally stronger than the conditions (B), this result indicates lack of existence for problems based on (A). For that reason, the hard-slip conditions (A) would seem inappropriate as boundary conditions.Finally, we discuss conditions at a grain boundary based on the flow of the Burgers vector at and across the boundary surface.     

Incompressible laminar 2D steady thermal boundary layers with temperature-dependent kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity

We prove that the incompressible 2D steady thermal boundary layer equations with temperature-dependent kinematic viscosity ν and thermal diffusivity α is maximally symmetric provided the Prantl number Pr=ν/α is constant and or ν=K₂(AT+B)^K₁ if we neglect energy dissipation and if we take into account dissipation. This result corroborates assumptions often made in applications. When we disregard dissipation, the symmetry Lie algebra assumes the forms L^r⊕L^∞, where L^∞ is an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra and L^r is an r-dimensional Lie algebra with r∈{3,4,5,6}. If we include dissipation, r∈{2,3}. We notice that dissipation has a symmetry breaking effect.We also show how the symmetries can be employed for the calculation of invariant solutions.     

Non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluids: Analytical results and exact solutions

A one layer model of laminar non-Newtonian fluids (Ostwald-de Waele model) past a semi-infinite flat plate is revisited. The stretching and the suction/injection velocities are assumed to be proportional to x^1/(1−2n) and x⁻¹, respectively, where n is the power-law index which is taken in the interval . It is shown that the boundary-layer equations display both similarity and pseudosimilarity reductions according to a parameter γ, which can be identified as suction/injection velocity. Interestingly, it is found that there is a unique similarity solution, which is given in a closed form, if and only if γ=0 (impermeable surface). For γ≠0 (permeable surface) we obtain a unique pseudosimilarity solution for any 0≠γ≥−((n+1)/3n(1−2n))^n/(n+1). Moreover, we explicitly show that any pseudosimilarity solution exhibits similarity behavior and it is, in fact, similarity solution to a modified boundary-layer problem for an impermeable surface. In addition, the exact similarity solution of the original boundary-layer problem is used, via suitable transverse translations, to construct new explicit solutions describing boundary-layer flows induced by permeable surfaces.     

From crack deflection to lattice vibrations—macro to atomistic examination of dynamic cleavage fracture

A set of cleavage experiments with strip-shaped single-crystal silicon specimens subjected to three-point bending is reported. The experiments enabled examination of the relationships between the dynamic energy release rate, the velocity, the orientation-dependent cleavage energy, and the cleavage plane of propagation.Dynamic crack propagation experiments show that when a [0 0 1] silicon single crystal is fractured under three-point bending at ‘parallel’ velocity (directly measured at the bottom surface of the specimen) of up to , it prefers to cleave along the vertical (1 1 0) plane, while when the specimen is fractured under the same conditions but at a velocity higher than , it cleaves along the inclined (1 1 1) plane. At intermediate velocities, the crack will deflect from the (1 1 0) plane to the (1 1 1) plane. Crack velocity was determined by the initial notch length. The local (calculated) velocity of deflection between the cleavage planes ranges from , for a crack propagating on the (1 1 0) plane in the direction, to about , for a crack on the (1 1 0) plane, but in the [0 0 1] direction.It is suggested that the cause of the deflection phenomenon is the anisotropic, velocity-dependent cleavage energy, resulted phonon radiation caused by anisotropic, velocity-dependent lattice vibrations. We have studied the effect of material properties and propose selection criteria to explain the deflection phenomenon: the crack will deflect to the plane of least-energy, for which G−Γ_i(V)=max, or to the plane with maximum crack tip velocity, V_i(Γ)=max.     

Chaotic diffusion in steady wavy vortex flow—Dependence on wave state and correlation with Eulerian symmetry measures

The dimensionless effective axial diffusion coefficient, D_z, calculated from particle trajectories in steady wavy vortex flow in a narrow gap Taylor-Couette system, has been determined as a function of Reynolds number (R=Re/Re_c), axial wavelength (λ_z), and the number of azimuthal waves (m). Two regimes of Reynolds number were found: (i) when R<3.5, D_z has a complex and sometimes multi-modal dependence on Reynolds number; (ii) when R>3.5, D_z decreases monotonically.Eulerian quantities measuring the departure from rotational symmetry, ?_θ, and flexion-free flow, ?_ν, were calculated. The space-averaged quantities and were found to have, unlike D_z, a simple unimodal dependence on R. In the low R regime the correlation between D_z and ?_θ?_ν was complicated and was attributed to variations in the spatial distribution of the wavy disturbance occurring in this range of R. In the large R regime, however, the correlation simplified to for all wave states, and this was attributed to the growth of an integrable vortex core and the concentration of the wavy disturbance into narrow regions near the outflow and inflow jets.A reservoir model of a wavy vortex was used to determine the rate of escape across the outflow and inflow boundaries, the size of the ‘escape basins’ (associated with escape across the outflow and inflow boundaries), and the size of the trapping region in the vortex core. In the low R regime after the breakup of all KAM tori, the outflow basin (γ_O) is larger than the inflow basin (γ_I), and both γ_O and γ_I are (approximately) independent of R. In the large R regime, with increasing Reynolds number the trapping region grows, the outflow basin decreases, and the inflow basin shows a slight increase. This implies that the growth of the integrable core occurs at the expense of the outflow escape basin. Finally, it is shown that the variation of the weighted escape rates (γ_Or_O,γ_Ir_I) with Reynolds number was in excellent qualitative agreement with the variation of .     

Scale shifting laws from pico to macro in consecutive segments by use of transitional functions

Systems with parts that vary in size from pico to macro inclusive are vulnerable of being incapacitated when a single part fails owing to deterioration of material properties. The majority of system failure can be attributed to incompatibility of integrated parts that were designed individually for general purpose. Total reliability calls for all parts, small and large, to be compatible in life spans. Mass, when regarded as energized matter, can vary as a function of time. This, in retrospect, explains why non-equilibrium and non-homogeneity cannot be avoided for multiscale shifting laws. A consistent and scale invariant definition of energy dissipation gives rise to mass pulsation, a common mechanism that seems to be applicable to living and non-living organisms.Scale shifting laws are developed from the use of transitional functions that stand for the mass ratios related to absorption energies and dissipation energies . The notations j and j + 1 stand for two successive scales: pi-na, na-mi, and mi-ma. Hence, the mass ratios , and can be referred to as the transitional inhomogeneity coefficients. They make up the scale shifting laws . Connection of the accelerated test data at the different scales, say from pico to nano to micro to macro, can be made by application of the definition of a scale invariant energy density dissipation function.On physical grounds, the segmented non-equilibrium and non-homogeneous test data can be connected through a velocity dependent mass and energy relation. Energy and power efficiency are defined to explore the macroscopic experiences to those at the lower scales. The time evolution properties of the material can also be derived as a package to include the accelerated test data, a procedure normally referred to as validation. The separation of derive-first and test-later, can never be abridged without ambiguities. Hence, total reliability of a system with many parts is advocated by judiciously matching the nine primary variables consisting of the initial disorder sizes, the time rates, and increments of the absorbed and dissipated energy density. The nine controllable variables consisting of life span distribution, energy, and power efficiencies for the three scale ranges are of secondary consideration.     

Size-dependent sharp indentation-II: a reverse algorithm to identify plastic properties of metallic materials

In part I of this paper (Cao and Lu, J. Mech. Phys. Solids, in press), a closed-form expression of the size-dependent sharp indentation loading curve has been proposed. In this second part, which concerns the direct application of the analytical model, a reverse algorithm has first been established to extract the plastic properties of metallic materials on a small scale where the size effect caused by geometrically necessary dislocations is significant. Second, from the viewpoint of the mathematical theory of inverse problems, the properties of the present inverse problem i.e. the existence, uniqueness and stability of the solution, have been investigated systematically. The results have identified the extent to which the plastic properties of ductile materials can be determined effectively using the present method. Third, experimental verifications of the reverse algorithm using a standard Berkovich indenter have been carried out for 316 stainless steel and pure titanium, respectively. The results show that, by taking a maximum indentation depth of 1.5 and , respectively for the two materials, a good engineering estimation of the representative stresses, σ_0.033, in the absence of a strain gradient can be made using the present method, which can be used in conjunction with the representative stress corresponding to another indenter with a different tip apex angle to determine the plastic properties of metallic materials, i.e. the yield strength σ_y and the strain hardening exponent n. The material length scale can also be identified by using the present algorithm. Experimental results show that it has the correct order of magnitude, but is more sensitive to data errors than the identified representative stress.     

Hall effects on the magnetohydrodynamic shear flow past an infinite porous flat plate subjected to uniform suction or blowing

An analysis is made of Hall effects on the steady shear flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid past an infinite porous plate in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field. It is shown that for suction at the plate, steady shear flow solution exists only when S²<Q, where S and Q are the suction and magnetic parameters, respectively. The primary flow velocity decreases with increase in Hall parameter m. But the cross-flow velocity first increases and then decreases with increase in m. Similar results are obtained for variation of the induced magnetic field with m. It is further found that for blowing at the plate, steady shear flow solution exists only when , where S₁ is the blowing parameter.     

Limit analysis of multi-layered plates. Part I: The homogenized Love-Kirchhoff model

The purpose of this paper is to determine , the overall homogenized Love-Kirchhoff strength domain of a rigid perfectly plastic multi-layered plate, and to study the relationship between the 3D and the homogenized Love-Kirchhoff plate limit analysis problems. In the Love-Kirchhoff model, the generalized stresses are the in-plane (membrane) and the out-of-plane (flexural) stress field resultants. The homogenization method proposed by Bourgeois [1997. Modélisation numérique des panneaux structuraux légers. Ph.D. Thesis, University Aix-Marseille] and Sab [2003. Yield design of thin periodic plates by a homogenization technique and an application to masonry wall. C. R. Méc. 331, 641-646] for in-plane periodic rigid perfectly plastic plates is justified using the asymptotic expansion method. For laminated plates, an explicit parametric representation of the yield surface is given thanks to the π-function (the plastic dissipation power density function) that describes the local strength domain at each point of the plate. This representation also provides a localization method for the determination of the 3D stress components corresponding to every generalized stress belonging to . For a laminated plate described with a yield function of the form , where σ^u is a positive even function of the out-of-plane coordinate x₃ and is a convex function of the local stress σ, two effective constants and a normalization procedure are introduced. A symmetric sandwich plate consisting of two Von-Mises materials ( in the skins and in the core) is studied. It is found that, for small enough contrast ratios (), the normalized strength domain is close to the one corresponding to a homogeneous Von-Mises plate [Ilyushin, A.-A., 1956. Plasticité. Eyrolles, Paris].     

Irreducible structure, symmetry and average of Eshelby's tensor fields in isotropic elasticity

The strain field ?(x) in an infinitely large, homogenous, and isotropic elastic medium induced by a uniform eigenstrain ?⁰ in a domain ω depends linearly upon . It has been a long-standing conjecture that the Eshelby's tensor field S^ω(x) is uniform inside ω if and only if ω is ellipsoidally shaped. Because of the minor index symmetry , S^ω might have a maximum of 36 or nine independent components in three or two dimensions, respectively. In this paper, using the irreducible decomposition of S^ω, we show that the isotropic part S of S^ω vanishes outside ω and is uniform inside ω with the same value as the Eshelby's tensor S⁰ for 3D spherical or 2D circular domains. We further show that the anisotropic part A^ω=S^ω-S of S^ω is characterized by a second- and a fourth-order deviatoric tensors and therefore have at maximum 14 or four independent components as characteristics of ω's geometry. Remarkably, the above irreducible structure of S^ω is independent of ω's geometry (e.g., shape, orientation, connectedness, convexity, boundary smoothness, etc.). Interesting consequences have implication for a number of recently findings that, for example, both the values of S^ω at the center of a 2D C_n(n?3,n≠4)-symmetric or 3D icosahedral ω and the average value of S^ω over such a ω are equal to S⁰.     

Load capacity of bodies

For the stress analysis in a plastic body Ω, we prove that there exists a maximal positive number C, the load capacity ratio, such that the body will not collapse under any external traction field t bounded by CY₀, where Y₀ is the yield stress. The load capacity ratio depends only on the geometry of the body and is given by

     

Geometrical properties of the vorticity vector derived using large-eddy simulation

In this paper, the geometrical properties of the resolved vorticity vector derived from large-eddy simulation are investigated using a statistical method. Numerical tests have been performed based on a turbulent Couette channel flow using three different dynamic linear and nonlinear subgrid-scale stress models. The geometrical properties of have a significant impact on various physical quantities and processes of the flow. To demonstrate, we examined helicity and helical structure, the attitude of with respect to the eigenframes of the resolved strain rate tensor and negative subgrid-scale stress tensor -τ_ij, enstrophy generation, and local vortex stretching and compression. It is observed that the presence of the wall has a strong anisotropic influence on the alignment patterns between and the eigenvectors of , and between and the resolved vortex stretching vector. Some interesting wall-limiting geometrical alignment patterns and probability density distributions in the form of Dirac delta functions associated with these alignment patterns are reported. To quantify the subgrid-scale modelling effects, the attitude of with respect to the eigenframe of -τ_ij is studied, and the geometrical alignment between and the Euler axis is also investigated. The Euler axis and angle for describing the relative rotation between the eigenframes of -τ_ij and are natural invariants of the rotation matrix, and are found to be effective for characterizing a subgrid-scale stress model and for quantifying the associated subgrid-scale modelling effects on the geometrical properties of .