On the failure of ellipticity of the equations for finite elastostatic plane strain

Summary In this paper we establish necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of the local principal stretches, for ordinary and strong ellipticity of the equations governing finite plane equilibrium deformations of a compressible hyperelastic solid. The material under consideration is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic, but its strain-energy density is otherwise unrestricted. We also determine the directions of the characteristic curves appropriate to plane elastostatic deformations that are accompanied by a failure of ellipticity.The results communicated in this paper were obtained in the course of an investigation supported by Contract N00014-75-C-0196 with the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C.     

A Note on Strong Ellipticity in Two-Dimensional Isotropic Elasticity

Based on the choice of two physically meaningful strain measures, we study necessary and sufficient conditions for strong ellipticity of the equilibrium equations for two-dimensional isotropic hyperelastic bodies. Specifically, we show, depending on the values of the derivatives of the energy function, that strong ellipticity is equivalent to a single condition with a clear physical interpretation.     

On the Strong Ellipticity of the Anisotropic Linearly Elastic Materials

In this paper we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for strong ellipticity in several classes of anisotropic linearly elastic materials. Our results cover all classes in the rhombic system (nine elasticities), four classes of the tetragonal system (six elasticities) and all classes in the cubic system (three elasticities). As a special case we recover necessary and sufficient conditions for strong ellipticity in transversely isotropic materials. The central result shows that for the rhombic system strong ellipticity restricts some appropriate combinations of elasticities to take values inside a domain whose boundary is the third order algebraic surface defined by x ²+y ²+z ²−2xyz−1=0 situated in the cube , , . For more symmetric situations, the general analysis restricts combinations of elasticities to range inside either a plane domain (for four classes in the tetragonal system) or in an one-dimensional interval (for the hexagonal systems, transverse isotropy and cubic system). The proof involves only the basic statement of the strong ellipticity condition.      

Loading restrictions for the Blatz-Ko hyperelastic model—application to a finite element analysis

In this paper, we consider the Blatz-Ko constitutive model for compressible elastic solids. It is shown that the Cauchy stress tensor leads to a normal loading limitation. This limitation induces slow convergence of the Newton-Raphson algorithm near the maximum authorized normal loading value and divergence if this value is exceeded. In addition, convergence of the Newton-Raphson scheme also depends on ellipticity and strong ellipticity conditions. These various points are discussed in the case of a rectangular specimen subjected to a tensile load and modeled with finite elements.     

Stress channelling in extreme couple-stress materials Part I: Strong ellipticity,wave propagation,ellipticity, and discontinuity relations

Materials with extreme mechanical anisotropy are designed to work near a material instability threshold where they display stress channeling and strain localization, effects that can be exploited in several technologies. Extreme couple stress solids are introduced and for the first time systematically analyzed in terms of several material instability criteria: positive-definiteness of the strain energy (implying uniqueness of the mixed b.v.p.), strong ellipticity (implying uniqueness of the b.v.p. with prescribed kinematics on the whole boundary), plane wave propagation, ellipticity, and the emergence of discontinuity surfaces. Several new and unexpected features are highlighted: (i) Ellipticity is mainly dictated by the ‘Cosserat part’ of the elasticity; (ii) its failure is shown to be related to the emergence of discontinuity surfaces; and (iii) ellipticity and wave propagation are not interdependent conditions (so that it is possible for waves not to propagate when the material is still in the elliptic range and, in very special cases, for waves to propagate when ellipticity does not hold). The proof that loss of ellipticity induces stress channeling, folding and faulting of an elastic Cosserat continuum (and the related derivation of the infinite-body Green’s function under antiplane strain conditions) is deferred to Part II of this study.     

The Strong Ellipticity Condition Under Changes in the Current and Reference Configuration

In this note we study the condition of strong ellipticity under changes in the current and reference configuration for the finite hyperelastostatic case. The outcome is that strong ellipticity is preserved provided one adjusts the vectors used in the definition of this condition accordingly.     

Nonlinear Antiplane Deformation of an Elastic Body

The antiplane elastic deformation of a homogeneous isotropic prestretched cylindrical body is studied in a nonlinear formulation in actual–state variables under incompressibility conditions, the absence of volume forces, and under constant lateral loading along the generatrix. The boundary–value problem of axial displacement is obtained in Cartesian and complex variables and sufficient ellipticity conditions for this problem are indicated in terms of the elastic potential. The similarity to a plane vortex–free gas flow is established. The problem is solved for Mooney and Rivlin—Sonders materials simulating strong elastic deformations of rubber–like materials. Axisymmetric solutions are considered.     

Sufficient conditions for strong ellipticity for a class of anisotropic materials

We provide sufficient conditions for strong ellipticity for a general class of anisotropic hyperelastic materials. This general class includes as a subclass transversely isotropic materials. Our sufficient conditions require that the first partial derivatives of the reduced-stored energy function satisfy some simple inequalities and that the second partial derivatives satisfy a convexity condition. We also characterize a restricted type of strong ellipticity for a subclass of transversely isotropic materials undergoing pure homogeneous deformations. We apply our results to a model of soft tissue from the biomechanics literature.     

On the Eigenvalues of the Fourth-Order Constitutive Tensor and Loss of Strong Ellipticity in Elastoplasticity

The eigenvalues of the fourth-order constitutive tangent modulus and the corresponding acoustic tensors are analyzed. Explicit expressions of the eigenvalues are made for the nonsymmetric tangent modulus tensor, and in the case of the deviatoric associative rule for the symmetric part of the tangent modulus and its acoustic tensor. In this context, a rate independent infinitesimal elastoplastic model is considered. The expressions of the plastic hardening modulus are summarized for the different local stability criteria (loss of second order work positiveness, loss of ellipticity, and loss of strong ellipticity). The critical hardening modulus and orientation are discussed in detail in the case of loss of ellipticity and loss of strong ellipticity. This analysis is based on the geometric method and linear, isotropic elasticity and deviatoric associative flow rule. In particular, the critical orientation for the loss of strong ellipticity and the classical shear band localization are compared.     

Strong ellipticity for tetragonal system in linearly elastic solids

The present paper studies the strong ellipticity for all crystal classes of tetragonal system in a linearly elastic material. Explicit conditions characterizing the strong ellipticity of the elasticity tensor are established for the tetragonal system with six elasticities (that is tetragonal–scalenohedral, ditetragonal–pyramidal, tetragonal–trapezohedral, ditetragonal–dipyramidal crystal classes) as well as for the tetragonal system with seven elasticities (tetragonal–disphenoidal, tetragonal–pyramidal and tetragonal–dipyramidal crystal classes).     

Localization of deformation and loss of macroscopic ellipticity in microstructured solids

Localization of deformation, a precursor to failure in solids, is a crucial and hence widely studied problem in solid mechanics. The continuum modeling approach of this phenomenon studies conditions on the constitutive laws leading to the loss of ellipticity in the governing equations, a property that allows for discontinuous equilibrium solutions. Micro-mechanics models and nonlinear homogenization theories help us understand the origins of this behavior and it is thought that a loss of macroscopic (homogenized) ellipticity results in localized deformation patterns. Although this is the case in many engineering applications, it raises an interesting question: is there always a localized deformation pattern appearing in solids losing macroscopic ellipticity when loaded past their critical state?In the interest of relative simplicity and analytical tractability, the present work answers this question in the restrictive framework of a layered, nonlinear (hyperelastic) solid in plane strain and more specifically under axial compression along the lamination direction. The key to the answer is found in the homogenized post-bifurcated solution of the problem, which for certain materials is supercritical (increasing force and displacement), leading to post-bifurcated equilibrium paths in these composites that show no localization of deformation for macroscopic strain well above the one corresponding to loss of ellipticity.     

On tensile instabilities and ellipticity loss in fiber-reinforced incompressible non-linearly elastic solids

Loss of ellipticity and associated failure in fiber-reinforced non-linearly elastic solids is examined for uniaxial plane deformations. We consider separately fiber reinforcement that either endows the material with additional stiffness only in the fiber direction or introduces additional stiffness under shear deformations. In the first case it is shown that loss of ellipticity under tensile loading in the fiber direction corresponds to a turning point of the nominal stress and requires concavity of the Cauchy stress–stretch curve. For the second example loss of ellipticity occurs after the nominal stress maximum and prior to a turning point of the Cauchy stress.     

Loss of Ellipticity in Plane Deformation of a Simple Directionally Reinforced Incompressible Nonlinearly Elastic Solid

Change of type in the governing equations of equilibrium is examined in the context of a base neo-Hookean response augmented with unidirectional reinforcing that is characterized by a single additional constitutive parameter for strength of reinforcement. Plane deformations interpreted in terms of both local and global plane strain are considered. Loss of ordinary ellipticity is found to occur for sufficiently large strength of reinforcement under sufficiently severe deformation which necessarily involves contraction in the reinforcing direction. Loss of ellipticity in local plane strain is easily characterized, and its incipient breakdown is associated with the possible emergence of surfaces of weak discontinuity with orientation normals in the reinforcing direction. Loss of ellipticity in global plane strain is given a two-dimensional manifold characterization in a space involving 2 deformation parameters and the strength of reinforcing parameter. Orientation normals for the associated surfaces of weak discontinuity at incipient breakdown do not in general conform to the reinforcing direction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Strong Ellipticity of Transversely Isotropic Elasticity Tensors

The strong ellipticity of the elasticity tensor of a linearly hyperelastic, transversely isotropic material is investigated. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the elasticity tensor to be strongly elliptic are determined for the five constants characterizing it.     

相变演化的理论与计算

 相变系统随时间的演化过程是一个有着广泛应用背景的重要理论问题，其核心困难在于椭 圆不稳定性. 介绍了两类处理方法，即广义熵条件法和加入耗散的方法. 对于后者， 介绍了高阶耗散与低阶耗散方面的一些进展，理论和数值研究揭示了耗散与椭圆不稳 定性之间非线性相互作用的机理和复杂现象.     

Global Continuation in Displacement Problems of Nonlinear Elastostatics via the Leray-Schauder Degree

We obtain global solution continua of forced displacement problems of nonlinear elastostatics via a Leray-Schauder scheme. We adopt strong ellipticity as a bsic constitutive hypothesis. The usual Leray-Schauder approach, based in part upon the reduction of the boundary value problem to an operator equation for the zeros of a compact vector field, apparently fails. On the one hand, strong ellipticity alone is not enough to insure “invertibility/rdquo; of the principal, quasilinear part of the differential operator. More importantly, the physical requirement of local injectivity of the deformation and the associated growth of the stored-energy function dictate that ellipticity is not uniform. We demonstrate how to overcome these difficulties. Finally, with additional, physically reasonable restrictions on the stored-energy function, we obtain unbounded branches of classical, globally injective solutions. Accepted: October 22, 1999     

A simple derivation of necessary and sufficient conditions for the strong ellipticity of isotropic hyperelastic materials in plane strain

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the strong ellipticity of isotropic hyperelastic materials were first given by Knowles and Sternberg [3,4] by means of a lengthy calculation. Since then Aubert and Tahraoui [1] have shown the necessity of these conditions and simplified one of them using a different but still complicated method. The purpose of this note is to show how the conditions can be derived in a very simple way.     

A Note on Uniqueness in Linear Elastostatics

We obtain a uniqueness theorem for linear elastostatics, for a homogeneous isotropic body, under the condition of strong ellipticity, in the case of “mixed–mixed” boundary conditions. The theorem applies to bodies of restricted local concavity and convexity. Some example domains are illustrated.      

A reformulation of the strong ellipticity conditions for unconstrained hyperelastic media

The conditions for the strong ellipticity of the equilibrium equations of compressible, isotropic, nonlinearly elastic solids (established by Simpson and Spector [1]) are expressed in terms of the stored-energy function regarded as a function of the principal stretches. The applicability of this reformulation is illustrated with the help of two specific examples.     

On strong ellipticity for isotropic hyperelastic materials based upon logarithmic strain

This paper discusses various constitutive restrictions on the strain energy function for an isotropic hyperelastic material derived from the condition of strong ellipticity. The strain energy function is assumed to be a function of a novel set of invariants of the Hencky (logarithmic or natural) strain tensor introduced by Criscione et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48 (2000) 2445). A key step in the analysis is the derivation of an expression for the Fréchet derivative of the Hencky strain with respect to the deformation gradient that is convenient for analyzing the quadratic form over the space of second order tensors central to establishing strong ellipticity. The theory is illustrated by applying the restrictions to a model for rubber proposed by Criscione et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48 (2000) 2445) It is shown that while that model can be made to violate strong ellipticity, it does so only for very large strains.