Improved bounds for the elastic moduli of perfectly-random composites

New upper and lower bounds are constructed for the elastic moduli of a class of isotropic composites with perfectly-random microgeometries ([1–3]), which improve upon the bounds on the elastic shear modulus given in [1].     

Rigorous bounds on the effective moduli of composites and inhomogeneous bodies with negative-stiffness phases

We review the theoretical bounds on the effective properties of linear elastic inhomogeneous solids (including composite materials) in the presence of constituents having non-positive-definite elastic moduli (so-called negative-stiffness phases). Using arguments of Hill and Koiter, we show that for statically stable bodies the classical displacement-based variational principles for Dirichlet and Neumann boundary problems hold but that the dual variational principle for traction boundary problems does not apply. We illustrate our findings by the example of a coated spherical inclusion whose stability conditions are obtained from the variational principles. We further show that the classical Voigt upper bound on the linear elastic moduli in multi-phase inhomogeneous bodies and composites applies and that it imposes a stability condition: overall stability requires that the effective moduli do not surpass the Voigt upper bound. This particularly implies that, while the geometric constraints among constituents in a composite can stabilize negative-stiffness phases, the stabilization is insufficient to allow for extreme overall static elastic moduli (exceeding those of the constituents). Stronger bounds on the effective elastic moduli of isotropic composites can be obtained from the Hashin–Shtrikman variational inequalities, which are also shown to hold in the presence of negative stiffness.     

The effective elastic moduli of columnar composites made of cylindrically anisotropic phases with rough interfaces

The present work aims to determine the effective elastic moduli of a composite having a columnar microstructure and made of two cylindrically anisotropic phases perfectly bonded at their interface oscillating quickly and periodically along the circular circumferential direction. To achieve this objective, a two-scale homogenization method is elaborated. First, the micro-to-meso upscaling is carried out by applying an asymptotic analysis, and the zone in which the interface oscillates is correspondingly homogenized as an equivalent interphase whose elastic properties are analytically and exactly determined. Second, the meso-to-macro upscaling is accomplished by using the composite cylinder assemblage model, and closed-form solutions are derived for the effective elastic moduli of the composite. Two important cases in which rough interfaces exhibit comb and saw-tooth profiles are studied in detail. The analytical results given by the two-scale homogenization procedure are shown to agree well with the numerical ones provided by the finite element method and to verify the universal relations existing between the effective elastic moduli of a two-phase columnar composite.     

General mean-field homogenization schemes for viscoelastic composites containing multiple phases of coated inclusions

We consider matrix materials reinforced with multiple phases of coated inclusions. All materials are linear viscoelastic. We present general schemes for the prediction of the effective properties based on mean-field homogenization. There are four contributions in this work. First, we present a two-step homogenization procedure in a general setting which besides the usual assumptions of Eshelby-based models, does not suffer any restriction in terms of material properties, aspect ratio or orientation. Second, for a matrix reinforced with coated inclusions, we propose two general homogenization schemes, a two-step method and a two-level recursive scheme. We develop and compare the mathematical expressions obtained by the two schemes and a generalized Mori–Tanaka (M–T) model. Third, for a two-phase composite, either standalone or stemming from two-step or two-level schemes, we use a double-inclusion model based on a closed-form but non-trivial interpolation between M–T and inverse M–T estimates. Fourth, we conduct an extensive validation of the proposed schemes as well as others against experimental data and unit cell finite element simulations for a variety of viscoelastic composite materials. Under severe conditions, the proposed schemes perform much better than other existing homogenization methods.     

Effective elastic moduli of composites reinforced by particle or fiber with an inhomogeneous interphase

The solution of the strain energy change of an infinite matrix due to the presence of one spherical particle or cylindrical fiber surrounded by an inhomogeneous interphase is the basis of solving effective elastic moduli of corresponding composites based on various micromechanics models. In order to find out the strain energy change, the composite sphere or cylinder, i.e., the spherical particle or cylindrical fiber together with its interphase, is replaced by an effective homogeneous particle or fiber. Independent governing differential equations for each modulus of the effective particle or fiber are derived by extending the replacement method [J. Mech. Phys. Solids 12 (1964) 199]. As far as the strain energy changes of the infinite matrix subjected to various far-field stress systems are concerned, the present model is simple. Meanwhile, FEM analysis is carried out for a verification, which shows that the model can lead to rather accurate results for most practical interphases. Besides, to check the validity of the model further when the interactions among composite cylinders exist, the two problems of an infinite matrix containing two composite cylinders and the effective moduli of composites with the equilateral triangular distribution of composite cylinders are analyzed using FEM. The FEM results show that the model is still rather accurate, especially for the case of interphase properties varying between those of fiber and matrix. Therefore, composite spheres or cylinders are assumed as the effective homogeneous particles or fibers and simple expressions of the effective moduli of composites containing the composite spheres or cylinders are obtained. Furthermore, the present model is compared with some existing models that are based on very complicated derivations.     

On the overall elastic moduli of composites with spherical coated fillers

A micromechanical approach is presented to estimate the overall linear elastic moduli of three phase composites consisting of two phase coated spherical particles randomly dispersed in a homogeneous isotropic matrix. The theoretical method is based on Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method and its recent extension by Shodja and Sarvestani [J. Appl. Mech. 68 (2001) 3] to evaluate the local field variables in case of double (multi) inhomogeneities. Using Tanaka–Mori theorem [J. Elasticity 2 (1972) 199] and a decomposition of Green’s function integral equation, the pair-wise average phase values of stress and strain in two interacting coated particles are estimated. Following Ju and Chen [Acta Mech. 103 (1994) 103; Acta Mech. 103 (1994) 123] the ensemble phase volume average of stress and strain fields can be evaluated within a representative volume element containing a finite number of coated particles. Comparisons with classical bounds are presented to illustrate the accuracy of the proposed method.     

Strong-contrast expansion correlation approximations for the effective elastic moduli of multiphase composites

Following the previous approach of Pham and Torquato (J Appl Phys 94:6591–6602, 2003) and Torquato (J Mech Phys Solids 45:1421–1448, 1997; Random heterogeneous media, Springer, Berlin, 2002), we derive the strong-contrast expansions for the effective elastic moduli K _e,G _e of d-dimensional multiphase composites. The series consists of a principal reference part and a fluctuation part (perturbation about a homogeneous reference or comparison material), which contains multi-point correlation functions that characterize the microstructure of the composite. We propose a three-point correlation approximation for the fluctuation part with an objective choice of the reference phase moduli, such that the fluctuation terms vanish. That results in the approximations for the effective elastic moduli of isotropic composites, which coincide with the well-known self-consistent and Maxwell approximations for two-phase composites having respective microstructures. Applications to some two-phase materials are given.     

Variational bounds for anisotropic elastic multiphase composites with different shapes of inclusions

In the present work, unified formulae for the overall elastic bounds for multiphase transversely isotropic composites with different geometrical types of inclusions embedded in a matrix are calculated, including the spherical and long or short continuous cylindrical fiber cases. The influence of the different geometrical configurations of the inclusions on the composites is studied. The transversely isotropic effective bounds are obtained by applying the variational formulation for anisotropic composites developed by Willis, which relies on expressions for the static transversely isotropic Green’s function. Some numerical calculations and comparisons with the effective coefficients derived from the self-consistent approach, asymptotic homogenization method, and finite element method (FEM) are shown for different aspect ratio values, exhibiting good agreement.     

Size-dependent effective elastic moduli of particulate composites with interfacial displacement and traction discontinuities

This work aims at estimating the size-dependent effective elastic moduli of particulate composites in which both the interfacial displacement and traction discontinuities occur. To this end, the interfacial discontinuity relations derived from the replacement of a thin uniform interphase layer between two dissimilar materials by an imperfect interface are reformulated so as to considerably simplify the characteristic expressions of a general elastic imperfect model which is adopted in the present work and include the widely used Gurtin–Murdoch and spring-layer interface models as particular cases. The elastic fields in an infinite body made of a matrix containing an imperfectly bonded spherical particle and subjected to arbitrary remote uniform strain boundary conditions are then provided in an exact, coordinate-free and compact way. With the aid of these results, the elastic properties of a perfectly bonded spherical particle energetically equivalent to an imperfectly bonded one in an infinite matrix are determined. The estimates for the effective bulk and shear moduli of isotropic particulate composites are finally obtained by using the generalized self-consistent scheme and discussed through numerical examples.     

Use of the parametrix method for estimating effective elastic moduli or randomly nonhomogeneous elastic bodies

The magnitude of the elasticity tensor of a comparison body remains unclarified if we use a singular approximation [1] to estimate the effective values of the elasticity tensor. Below we will use a parametrix method [2] to determine the first approximation of the random component of the deformation tensor and the effective values of the elasticity tensor, and will also compare the exact solution for one particular heterogeneous and a previously used approximation.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 1, pp. 171–175, January–February, 1976.     

Analyzing the viscoelastic state of a plate with elliptic or linear elastic inclusions

A method is proposed for studying the stress state of a viscoelastic multiply connected isotropic plate with aligned elastic inclusions. The viscoelastic state of a plate with a finite or infinite number of circular and linear inclusions is analyzed __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 88–98, February 2007. For the centenary of the birth of G. N. Savin.     

Bounds for the effective conductivity and elastic moduli of fully-disordered multicomponent materials

Communicated by R. Kohn     

固体的弹性模量和内耗测量方法研究进展

弹性模量和内耗是固体材料的基本力学性质, 其测量的准确性和便捷性对工业生产和科学研究都很重要. 本文回顾了近一百年来固体材料弹性模量和内耗的测量方法, 主要分为四类: 准静态方法、低频法、共振法和波传播法. 首先对每类方法的测量原理进行了简单介绍及总体评价. 接着对几种共振方法, 包括自由梁共振法、脉冲激励法、超声共振谱方法和压电超声复合振动技术(PUCOT)进行了详细介绍和评价. 然后, 重点介绍了本课题组最新提出的基于机电阻抗的模量内耗测量方法(称之为M-PUCOT或Q-EMI), 它可以同时、准确、快速地测量杨氏/剪切模量及相应内耗. 最后, 对这种新型弹性模量/内耗测量方法的意义和应用前景进行了讨论和展望.      

Estimates for the elastic moduli of random trigonal polycrystals and their macroscopic uncertainty

Explicit expressions of the upper and lower estimates on the macroscopic elastic moduli of random trigonal polycrystals are derived and calculated for a number of aggregates, which correct our earlier results given in Pham [Pham, D.C., 2003. Asymptotic estimates on uncertainty of the elastic moduli of completely random trigonal polycrystals. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 4911–4924]. The estimates are expected to predict the scatter ranges for the elastic moduli of the polycrystalline materials. The concept of effective moduli is reconsidered regarding the macroscopic uncertainty of the moduli of randomly inhomogeneous materials.     

A numerical simulation for effective elastic moduli of plates with various distributions and sizes of cracks

A fast convergent numerical model is developed to calculate the effective moduli of plates with various distributions and sizes of cracks, in which the crack line is divided into M parts to obtain the unknown traction on the crack line. When M=1, the model reduces to Kachanov's approximation method [Int. J. Solids Struct. 23 (1987) 23]. Six types of crack distributions and three kinds of crack sizes are considered, which are four regular (equilateral triangle, equilateral hexagon, rectangle, and diamond) and two random distributions (random location and orientation, and parallel orientation and random location), and one, two and random crack sizes. Some typical examples are also analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) to validate the present model. Then, the effective moduli associated with the crack distributions and sizes are calculated in detail. The present results for the regular distributions show some very interesting phenomena that have not been revealed before. And for the two random distributions, as the effective moduli depend on samples due to the randomness, the effect of the sample size and number are analyzed first. Then, effective moduli for plates with the three sizes of cracks are calculated. It is found that the effect of crack sizes on the effective moduli is significant for high crack densities, and small for low crack densities, and the random crack size leads to the lowest effective moduli. The present numerical results are compared with several popular micromechanics models to determine which one can provide the optimum estimation of the effective moduli of cracked plates with general crack densities. Furthermore, some existing numerical results are analyzed and discussed.     

Bounds and perturbation series for incompressible elastic composites with transverse isotropic symmetry

The effective elastic behavior of a transversely isotropic composite made from two incompressible elastic materials is examined. The set of all effective elasticity tensors for transversely isotropic finite rank laminar microstructures is described. The extremal property of this class of microstructures is used to derive a new more precise characterization of the set of effective shear moduli.The perturbation series for the effective elasticity tensor is considered. An explicit formula for the second order perturbation tensor is derived. We describe precisely the set of tensors that correspond to all second order perturbations consistent with transverse isotropy. We apply analytic methods [cf. 27] to show that all second order perturbation tensors are realized by finite rank laminar microstructures.Supported by NSF through Grant DMS-3907658.     

State space approach to the generalized thermoelastic problem with temperature-dependent elastic moduli and internal heat sources

A two-dimensional equation of generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation time in an isotropic elastic medium with the elastic modulus dependent on temperature and with an internal heat source is established using a Laplace transform in time and a Fourier transform in the space variable. The problem for the transforms is solved in the space of states. The problem of heating of the upper and the lower surface of a plate of great thickness by an exponential time law is considered. Expressions for displacements, temperature, and stresses are obtained in the transform domain. The inverse transform is obtained using a numerical method. Results of solving the problem are presented in graphical form. Comparisons are made with the results predicted by the coupled theory and with the case of temperature independence of the elastic modulus.     

Growth estimates and lower bounds for solutions in nonlinear elastodynamics with indefinite strain energy

This paper investigates questions of nonexistence and growth of weak solutions of a system of equations of nonlinear elastodynamics under various hypotheses on the data and on the form of the strain energy function.     

Moving interfaces that separate loose and compact phases of elastic aggregates: a mechanism for drastic reduction or increase in macroscopic deformation

Granular materials such as sand may be viewed as continuous bodies composed of much smaller elastic bodies. The multiscale geometry of structured deformations captures the contribution at the macrolevel of the smooth deformation of each small body in the aggregate (deformation without disarrangements) as well as the contribution at the macrolevel of the non-smooth deformations such as slips and separations between the small bodies in the aggregate (deformation due to disarrangements). When the free energy response of the aggregate depends only upon the deformation without disarrangements, is isotropic, and possesses standard growth and semi-convexity properties, we establish (i) the existence of a compact phase in which every small elastic body deforms in the same way as the aggregate and, when the volume change of macroscopic deformation is sufficiently large, (ii) the existence of a loose phase in which every small elastic body expands and rotates to achieve a stress-free state with accompanying disarrangements in the aggregate. We show that a broad class of elastic aggregates can admit moving surfaces that transform material in the compact phase into the loose phase and vice versa and that such transformations entail drastic changes in the level of deformation of transforming material points.