On non-singular GRADELA crack fields

A brief account is provided on crack-tip solutions that have recently been published in the literature by employing the so-called GRADELA model and its variants. The GRADELA model is a simple gradient elasticity theory involving one internal length in addition to the two Lame' constants, in an effort to eliminate elastic singularities and discontinuities and to interpret elastic size effects. The non-singular strains and non-singular (but sometimes singular or even hypersingular) stresses derived this way under different boundary conditions differ from each other and their physical meaning in not clear. This is discussed which focus on the form and physical meaning of non-singular solutions for crack-tip stresses and strains that are possible to obtain within the GRADELA model and its extensions.     

Stress gradient versus strain gradient constitutive models within elasticity

A stress gradient elasticity theory is developed which is based on the Eringen method to address nonlocal elasticity by means of differential equations. By suitable thermodynamics arguments (involving the free enthalpy instead of the free internal energy), the restrictions on the related constitutive equations are determined, which include the well-known Eringen stress gradient constitutive equations, as well as the associated (so far uncertain) boundary conditions. The proposed theory exhibits complementary characters with respect to the analogous strain gradient elasticity theory. The associated boundary-value problem is shown to admit a unique solution characterized by a Hellinger–Reissner type variational principle. The main differences between the Eringen stress gradient model and the concomitant Aifantis strain gradient model are pointed out. A rigorous formulation of the stress gradient Euler–Bernoulli beam is provided; the response of this beam model is discussed as for its sensitivity to the stress gradient effects and compared with the analogous strain gradient beam model.     

A new nonlocal bending model for Euler–Bernoulli nanobeams

This paper is concerned with the bending problem of nanobeams starting from a nonlocal thermodynamic approach. A new coupled nonlocal model, depending on two nonlocal parameters, is obtained by using a suitable definition of the free energy. Unlike previous approaches which directly substitute the expression of the nonlocal stress into the classical equilibrium equations, the proposed approach provides a methodology to recover nonlocal models starting from the free energy function. The coupled model can then be specialized to obtain a nanobeam formulation based on the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory and on the gradient elastic model. The variational formulations are consistently provided and the differential equations with the related boundary conditions are thus derived. Nanocantilevers are solved in a closed-form and numerical results are presented to investigate the influence of the nonlocal parameters.     

Towards multi-scale continuum elasticity theory

We propose a new method of constructing a series of nested quasicontinuum models, which describe linear elastic behavior of crystal lattices at successively smaller scales. The relevant scales are dictated by the interatomic interactions and are not arbitrary. The novelty of the model is in the use of a decomposition of the displacement field into the coarse part and the micro-level corrections. The coarse contribution is the conventional homogenized displacement field used in classical continuum elasticity. The micro-level corrections are sub-continuum fields representing the fine structure of the boundary layers exhibited by the discrete equilibrium configuration. The model is based on a multi-point Padé approximation in the Fourier space of the discrete Green’s function. We systematically compare the new model with the conventional strain gradient model.      

SINGULARITY UNDER A CONCENTRATED FORCE IN ELASTICITY

We first discuss singularity problem of a sort of partial differential equation involvingδfunction.Using this result we then have the answer to various singularity problems in elasticity due to the presentation of a concentrated force.Lastly corresponding conclusions in vibration problem are drawn.     

Quasi-particles associated with Bleustein–Gulyaev SAWs: Perturbations by elastic nonlinearities

In the line of previous works studying the possibility to associate quasi-particles with surface acoustic waves (SAWs) on deformable solids, here we consider perturbations caused by a small elastic nonlinearity. More specifically, the problem considered deals with surface acoustic waves of the Bleustein–Gulyaev (BG) piezoelectric type, allowing for the existence of a transverse (SH) elastic displacement coupled to a quasi-electrostatic electric field. It is shown that the resulting quasi-particle has a Newtonian inertial, conservative, motion parallel to the limiting surface, with both velocity and “mass” perturbed by the elastic nonlinearity as compared to the standard BG case.     

Spatial Estimates for the Constrained Anisotropic Elastic Cylinder

This paper establishes spatial estimates in a prismatic (semi-infinite) cylinder occupied by an anisotropic homogeneous linear elastic material, whose elasticity tensor is strongly elliptic. The cylinder is maintained in equilibrium under zero body force, zero displacement on the lateral boundary and pointwise specified displacement over the base. The other plane end is subject to zero displacement (when the cylinder is finite, say). The limiting case of a semi-infinite cylinder is also considered and zero displacement on the remote end (at large distance) is not assumed in this case. A first approach is developed by considering two mean-square cross-sectional measures of the displacement vector whose spatial evolution with respect to the axial variable is studied by means of a technique based on a second-order differential inequality. Conditions on the elastic constants are derived that show the cross-sectional measures exhibit alternative behaviour and in particular for the semi-infinite cylinder that there is either at least exponential growth or at most exponential decay. A second approach considers cross-sectional integrals involving the displacement and its gradient and furnishes information upon the spatial evolution, without restricting the range of strongly elliptic elastic constants. Such models are principally based upon a first-order differential inequality as well as on one of second order. The general results are explicitly presented for transversely isotropic materials and graphically illustrated for a cortical bone.     

Singularity under a concentrated force in elasticity

We first discuss singularity problem of a sort of partial differential equation involving δ function. Using this result we, then have the answer to various singularity problems in elasticity due to the presentation of a concentrated force. Lastly corresponding conclusions in vibration problem are drawn. Project of research foundation supported by National Education Committee     

Elasto-plasticity of paper

We develop a constitutive model of paper's in-plane biaxial tensile response accounting for the elastic–plastic hardening behavior, and its orthotropic character. The latter aspect is motivated by machine-made papers, which, in contrast to isotropic laboratory handsheets, are strongly oriented. We focus on modeling paper's response under monotonic loading, this restriction allowing us to treat the elastic-plastic response as a physically nonlinear elastic one. A strain energy function of a hyperbolic tangent form is developed so as to fit the entire range of biaxial and uniaxial experiments on a commercial grade paper. This function may then be introduced as the free energy function into a model based on thermomechanics with internal variables.     

Surface waves and surface stability for a pre-stretched, unconstrained, non-linearly elastic half-space

An unconstrained, non-linearly elastic, semi-infinite solid is maintained in a state of large static plane strain. A power-law relation between the pre-stretches is assumed and it is shown that this assumption is well motivated physically and is likely to describe the state of pre-stretch for a wide class of materials. A general class of strain-energy functions consistent with this assumption is derived. For this class of materials, the secular equation for incremental surface waves and the bifurcation condition for surface instability are shown to reduce to an equation involving only ordinary derivatives of the strain-energy equation. A compressible neo-Hookean material is considered as an example and it is found that finite compressibility has little quantitative effect on the speed of a surface wave and on the critical ratio of compression for surface instability.     

Lattice with long-range interaction of power-law type for fractional non-local elasticity

Lattice models with long-range interactions of power-law type are suggested as a new type of microscopic model for fractional non-local elasticity. Using the transform operation, we map the lattice equations into continuum equation with Riesz derivatives of non-integer orders. The continuum equations that are obtained from the lattice model describe fractional generalization of non-local elasticity models. Particular solutions and correspondent asymptotic of the fractional differential equations for displacement fields are suggested for the static case.     

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.     

A consistent nonlocal scheme based on filters for the homogenization of heterogeneous linear materials with non-separated scales

In this work, the question of homogenizing linear elastic, heterogeneous materials with periodic microstructures in the case of non-separated scales is addressed. A framework if proposed, where the notion of mesoscopic strain and stress fields are defined by appropriate integral operators which act as low-pass filters on the fine scale fluctuations. The present theory extends the classical linear homogenization by substituting averaging operators by integral operators, and localization tensors by nonlocal operators involving appropriate Green functions. As a result, the obtained constitutive relationship at the mesoscale appears to be nonlocal. Compared to nonlocal elastic models introduced from a phenomenological point of view, the nonlocal behavior has been fully derived from the study of the microstructure. A discrete version of the theory is presented, where the mesoscopic strain field is approximated as a linear combination of basis functions. It allows computing the mesoscopic nonlocal operator by means of a finite number of transformation tensors, which can be computed numerically on the unit cell.     

Microstructures as a refinement of Cauchy theory. Problems of physical concreteness

A procedure for establishing a new mathematical model of a microstructure is expounded, paying special attention to Cosserat's elastic continua. The aim is to show the conceptual and technical possibility of considering a microstructure as a refinement of Cauchy's theory. It appears that the new mathematical model has more physical concreteness than the classical one.Received: 15 December 2002, Accepted: 20 December 2002, Published online: 12 September 2003     

Remarks on the Behavior of Simple Directionally Reinforced Incompressible Nonlinearly Elastic Solids

The effect of directional reinforcing in generating qualitative changes in the mechanical response of a base neo-Hookean material is examined in the context of homogenous deformation. Single axis reinforcing giving transverse isotropy is the major focus, in which case a standard reinforcing model is characterized by a single constitutive reinforcing parameter. Various qualitative changes in the mechanical response ensue as the reinforcing parameter increases from the zero-value associated with neo-Hookean response. These include (in order): the existence of a limiting contractive stretch for transverse-axis tensile load; loss of monotonicity in off-axis simple shear; loss of monotonicity in on-axis compression; loss of positivity in the stress-shear product in off-axis simple shear; and loss of monotonicity for plane strain in on-axis compression. The qualitative changes in the simple shear response are associated with stretch relaxation in the reinforcing direction due to finite rotation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A physical perspective of the length scales in gradient elasticity through the prism of wave dispersion

The goal of this study is to understand the physical meaning and evaluate the intrinsic length scale parameters, featured in the theories of gradient elasticity, by deploying the analytical treatment and experimental measurements of the dispersion of elastic waves. The developments are focused on examining the propagation of longitudinal waves in an aluminum rod with periodically varying cross-section. First, the analytical solution for the dispersion relationship, based on the periodic cell analysis of a bi-layered laminate and Bloch theorem, is compared to two competing models of gradient elasticity. It is shown that the customary gradient elastic model with two length-scale parameters is able to capture the dispersion accurately up to the beginning of the first band gap. On the other hand, the gradient elastic model with an additional length scale (affiliated with the fourth-order time derivative in the field equation) is shown to capture not only the first dispersion branch before the band gap, but also the band gap itself and the preponderance of the second branch. Closed form relations between the microstructure parameters and the intrinsic length scales are obtained for both gradient elasticity models. By way of the asymptotic treatment in the limit of a weak contrast between the laminae, a clear physical meaning and scaling of the length-scale parameters was established in terms of: (i) the microstructure (given by the size of the unit cell and the contrast between the laminae), and (ii) thus induced dispersion relationship (characterized by the location and the width of the band gap). The analysis is verified through an experimental observation of wave dispersion, and wave attenuation within the band gap. A comparison between the analytical treatment, the gradient elastic model with three intrinsic length scales, and experimental measurements demonstrates a good agreement over the range of frequencies considered.     

Analytical network-averaging of the tube model:: Rubber elasticity

In this paper, a micromechanical model for rubber elasticity is proposed on the basis of analytical network-averaging of the tube model and by applying a closed-form of the Rayleigh exact distribution function for non-Gaussian chains. This closed-form is derived by considering the polymer chain as a coarse-grained model on the basis of the quantum mechanical solution for finitely extensible dumbbells (Ilg et al., 2000). The proposed model includes very few physically motivated material constants and demonstrates good agreement with experimental data on biaxial tension as well as simple shear tests.     

Gradient elasticity and nonstandard boundary conditions

Gradient elasticity for a second gradient model is addressed within a suitable thermodynamic framework apt to account for nonlocality. The pertinent thermodynamic restrictions upon the gradient constitutive equations are derived, which are shown to include, besides the field (differential) stress–strain laws, a set of nonstandard boundary conditions. Consistently with the latter thermodynamic requirements, a surface layer with membrane stresses is envisioned in the strained body, which together with the above nonstandard boundary conditions make the body constitutively insulated (i.e. no long distance energy flows out of the boundary surface due to nonlocality). The total strain energy is shown to include a bulk and surface strain energy. A minimum total potential energy principle is provided for the related structural boundary-value problem. The Toupin–Mindlin polar-type strain gradient material model is also addressed and compared with the above one, their substantial differences are pointed out, particularly for what regards the constitutive equations and the boundary conditions accompanying the solving displacement equilibrium equations. A gradient one-dimensional bar sample in tension is considered for a few applications of the proposed theory.     

Elastica-based strain energy functions for soft biological tissue

Continuum strain energy density functions are developed for soft biological tissues that possess slender, fibrillar components. The treatment is based on the model of an elastica, which is our fine scale model, and is homogenized in a simple fashion to obtain a continuum strain energy density function. Notably, we avoid solving the exact, fourth-order, non-linear, partial differential equation for deformation of the elastica by resorting to other assumptions, kinematic and energetic, on the response of individual, elastica-like fibrils. The formulation, discussion of responses of different models and comparison with experiment are presented.     

一种新的橡胶材料弹性本构模型

橡胶类材料本构关系对于科学研究和工程应用具有重要意义,但已有的橡胶模型的拟合能力和可靠性需要进一步提高.为解决此问题,本文提出了一种新的橡胶材料的各向同性、不可压缩柯西弹性模型.研究了橡胶材料本构关系的模型形式,基于平面应力变形状态,提出了一种以较大的两个伸长率为自变量、适用于一般变形状态的橡胶材料弹性本构模型形式;研究了橡胶材料在侧面受约束条件下的变形规律,分析了橡胶材料本构关系需要满足的约束条件;在此基础上,结合一个可以通过实验确定的描述平面拉伸变形状态下的橡胶材料力学特性函数,提出一种将该函数拓展为平面应力状态一般模型的方法,并给出了一个具体的函数形式,形成了一个新的不可压缩、各向同性的橡胶材料弹性本构模型.使用5组包含3种类型实验的数据和一组较全面的双轴测试数据对该模型进行了参数拟合,结果表明:该模型具有很好的拟合精度和更高的可靠性,仅用一种类型实验数据,如单轴拉伸或者平面拉伸等,也能获得较好的拟合结果.