Effective bulk moduli of materials containing stochastically distributed nano-inhomogeneities with surface stresses

In the present contribution, a mathematical model for the investigation of the effective properties of a material with randomly distributed nano-particles is proposed. The surface effect is introduced via Gurtin-Murdoch equations describing properties of the matrix/nano-particle interface. They are added to the system of stochastic differential equations formulated within the framework of linear elasticity. The homogenization problem is reduced to finding a statistically averaged solution of the system of stochastic differential equations. These equations are based on the fundamental equations of linear elasticity, which are coupled with surface/interface elasticity accounting for the presence of surface tension. Using Green's function this system is transformed to a system of statistically non-linear integral equations. It is solved by the method of conditional moments. Closed-form expressions are derived for the effective moduli of a composite consisting of a matrix with randomly distributed spherical inhomogeneities. The radius of the nano-particles is included in the expression for the bulk moduli. As numerical examples, nano-porous aluminum and nano-porous gold are investigated assuming that only the influence of the interface effects on the effective bulk modulus is of interest. The dependence of the normalized bulk moduli of nano-porous aluminum on the pore volume fraction (for certain radii of nano-pores) are compared to and discussed in the context of other theoretical predictions. The effective Young's modulus of nano-porous gold as a function of pore radius (for fixed void volume fraction) and the normalized Young's modulus vs. the pore volume fraction for different pore radii are analyzed. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Positive definite balancing Neumann–Neumann preconditioners for nearly incompressible elasticity

In this paper, a positive definite Balancing Neumann–Neumann (BNN) solver for the linear elasticity system is constructed and analyzed. The solver implicitly eliminates the interior degrees of freedom in each subdomain and solves iteratively the resulting Schur complement, involving only interface displacements, using a BNN preconditioner based on the solution of a coarse elasticity problem and local elasticity problems with natural and essential boundary conditions. While the Schur complement becomes increasingly ill-conditioned as the materials becomes almost incompressible, the BNN preconditioned operator remains well conditioned. The main theoretical result of the paper shows that the proposed BNN method is scalable and quasi-optimal in the constant coefficient case. This bound holds for material parameters arbitrarily close to the incompressible limit. While this result is due to an underlying mixed formulation of the problem, both the interface problem and the preconditioner are positive definite. Numerical results in two and three dimensions confirm these good convergence properties and the robustness of the methods with respect to the almost incompressibility of the material.     

A Variational Model for Dislocations at Semi-coherent Interfaces

We propose and analyze a simple variational model for dislocations at semi-coherent interfaces. The energy functional describes the competition between two terms: a surface energy induced by dislocations and a bulk elastic energy, spent to decrease the amount of dislocations needed to compensate the lattice misfit. We prove that, for minimizers, the former scales like the surface area of the interface, the latter like its diameter. The proposed continuum model is built on some explicit computations done in the framework of the semi-discrete theory of dislocations. Even if we deal with finite elasticity, linearized elasticity naturally emerges in our analysis since the far-field strain vanishes as the interface size increases.     

Two-scale homogenization in transmission problems of elasticity with interface jumps

The elasticity problem in a periodic structure with prescribed interface jumps in displacements and tractions and oscillating Neumann condition on a part of the external boundary is considered. This work is just a generalization of inhomogeneous Dirichlet and Neumann conditions on the oscillating interface. Such interface jumps arise, e.g. in contact problems with known periodic contact interface. Two-scale approach was applied to the problem and the two-scale convergence was proven. This article also provides a detailed auxiliary analysis for Sobolev functions with interface jumps.     

Size-dependent pull-in phenomena in electrically actuated nanobeams incorporating surface energies

A modified continuum model of electrically actuated nanobeams is presented by incorporating surface elasticity in this paper. The classical beam theory is adopted to model the bulk, while the bulk stresses along the surfaces of the bulk substrate are required to satisfy the surface balance equations of the continuum surface elasticity. On the basis of this modified beam theory the governing equation of an electrically actuated nanobeam is derived and a powerful technology, analog equation method (AEM) is applied to solve this complex problem. Beams made from two materials: aluminum and silicon are chosen as examples. The numerical results show that the pull-in phenomena in electrically actuated nanobeams are size-dependent. The effects of the surface energies on the static and dynamic responses, pull-in voltage and pull-in time are discussed.     

Saint–Venant torsion of a circular bar with radial cracks incorporating surface elasticity

The Saint–Venant torsion problem of a circular cylinder containing a radial crack with surface elasticity is studied. The surface elasticity is incorporated into the crack faces by using the continuum-based surface/interface model of Gurtin and Murdoch. Both an internal crack and an edge crack are considered. By using the Green’s function method, the boundary value problem is reduced to a Cauchy singular integro-differential equation of the first order, which can be numerically solved by using the Gauss–Chebyshev integration formula, the Chebyshev polynomials and the collocation method. Due to the incorporation of surface elasticity, the stresses exhibit the logarithmic singularity at the crack tips. The torsion problem of a circular cylinder containing two symmetric collinear radial cracks of equal length with surface elasticity is also solved by using a similar method. The strengths of the logarithmic singularity and the size-dependent torsional rigidity are calculated.     

The relative importance of surface compressional modulus of elasticity and reynolds number in interfacial turbulence — mass transfer

Surface renewal theories have gained recognition, prominence and widespread acceptance in explaining mass transfer processes at interfaces that become turbulent.Eddies are envisaged as being impelled into the interface from the bulk phase in mechanically stirred systems where they renew the surface with fresh liquid or fluid in a dynamic process.The effect of surface active agents has been known to damp mass transfer by inhibiting tangential eddy movements, hence surface renewal, and confirmed experimentally.Since the problem is dynamic, the mode of eddy propagation into the interface and the amount of area renewed are visualized as important factors in determining mass transfer across turbulent interfaces.The purpose of this paper was to construct a mathematical model which reveals the relative importance of the surface compressional modulus of elasticity Cs⁻¹, as opposed to the degree of agitation, which is synonymous with turbulence, hence Reynolds number, as each one tends to offset the other in mass transfer processes.The results are extremely important in industrial processes as they affect design and efficiency, as surface active agents become an undesirable nuisance in retarding mass transfer in both mixing and extraction processes and could prove to be well nigh indispensable.     

A new Bernoulli–Euler beam model incorporating microstructure and surface energy effects

A new Bernoulli–Euler beam model is developed using a modified couple stress theory and a surface elasticity theory. A variational formulation based on the principle of minimum total potential energy is employed, which leads to the simultaneous determination of the equilibrium equation and complete boundary conditions for a Bernoulli–Euler beam. The new model contains a material length scale parameter accounting for the microstructure effect in the bulk of the beam and three surface elasticity constants describing the mechanical behavior of the beam surface layer. The inclusion of these additional material constants enables the new model to capture the microstructure- and surface energy-dependent size effect. In addition, Poisson’s effect is incorporated in the current model, unlike existing beam models. The new beam model includes the models considering only the microstructure dependence or the surface energy effect as special cases. The current model reduces to the classical Bernoulli–Euler beam model when the microstructure dependence, surface energy, and Poisson’s effect are all suppressed. To demonstrate the new model, a cantilever beam problem is solved by directly applying the general formulas derived. Numerical results reveal that the beam deflection predicted by the new model is smaller than that by the classical beam model. Also, it is found that the difference between the deflections predicted by the two models is very significant when the beam thickness is small but is diminishing with the increase of the beam thickness.     

带空洞损伤的古典压力容器问题

本文根据微弹性结构线性理论研究了带空洞损伤的压力容器问题．解答是准静态的，其应力场为古典弹性力学关于球体对称压力容流问题应力解答，位移场和损伤场具有由于考虑损伤而表现出体积粘弹性特点．     

Linear and bilinear immersed finite elements for planar elasticity interface problems

This article is to discuss the linear (which was proposed in  and ) and bilinear immersed finite element (IFE) methods for solving planar elasticity interface problems with structured Cartesian meshes. Basic features of linear and bilinear IFE functions, including the unisolvent property, will be discussed. While both methods have comparable accuracy, the bilinear IFE method requires less time for assembling its algebraic system. Our analysis further indicates that the bilinear IFE functions are guaranteed to be applicable to a larger class of elasticity interface problems than linear IFE functions. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that both linear and bilinear IFE spaces have the optimal approximation capability, and that numerical solutions produced by a Galerkin method with these IFE functions for elasticity interface problem also converge optimally in both L²$L^2$ and semi-H¹$H^1$ norms.     

A gradient structure for systems coupling reaction–diffusion effects in bulk and interfaces

We derive gradient-flow formulations for systems describing drift-diffusion processes of a finite number of species which undergo mass-action type reversible reactions. Our investigations cover heterostructures, where material parameter may depend in a nonsmooth way on the space variable. The main results concern a gradient-flow formulation for electro-reaction–diffusion systems with active interfaces permitting drift-diffusion processes and reactions of species living on the interface and transfer mechanisms allowing bulk species to jump into an interface or to pass through interfaces. The gradient flows are formulated in terms of two functionals: the free energy and the dissipation potential. Both functionals consist of a bulk and an interface integral. The interface integrals determine the interface dynamics as well as the self-consistent coupling to the model in the bulk. The advantage of the gradient structure is that it automatically generates thermodynamically consistent models.     

Invariant integrals in a planar problem of elasticity theory for bodies with rigid inclusions and cracks

The article addresses a planar problem of elasticity theory for a body containing a rigid inclusion and a crack at the interface between the elastic matrix and the rigid inclusion. We show that the problem admits J- and M-invariant integrals. In particular, we construct an invariant integral of the Cherepanov-Rice type for rectilinear cracks.     

The Laplace and the linear elasticity problems near polyhedral corners and associated eigenvalue problems

For domains with concave corners, the solutions to elliptic boundary values have the typical r^α‐singularity. The so‐called singularity exponents α are the eigenvalues of an eigenvalue problem which is associated with the given boundary value problem. This paper is aimed at deriving the mentioned eigenvalue problems for two examples, the Laplace equation and the linear elasticity problem. We will show interesting properties of these eigenvalue problems. For the linear elasticity problem, we explain in addition why the classical symmetry and positivity assumptions of the material tensor have to be used with care. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Explicit jump immersed interface method for virtual material design of the effective elastic moduli of composite materials

Virtual material design is the microscopic variation of materials in the computer, followed by the numerical evaluation of the effect of this variation on the material’s macroscopic properties. The goal of this procedure is an in some sense improved material. Here, we give examples regarding the dependence of the effective elastic moduli of a composite material on the geometry of the shape of an inclusion. A new approach on how to solve such interface problems avoids mesh generation and gives second order accurate results even in the vicinity of the interface. The Explicit Jump Immersed Interface Method is a finite difference method for elliptic partial differential equations that works on an equidistant Cartesian grid in spite of non-grid aligned discontinuities in equation parameters and solution. Near discontinuities, the standard finite difference approximations are modified by adding correction terms that involve jumps in the function and its derivatives. This work derives the correction terms for two dimensional linear elasticity with piecewise constant coefficients, i.e. for composite materials. It demonstrates numerically convergence and approximation properties of the method.      

The Signorini problem with Coulomb friction for a hyperelastic body under finite deformations

The quasi-static three-dimensional problem of elasticity theory for a hyperelastic body under finite deformations, loading by bulk and surface forces, partial fastening and unilateral contact with a rigid punch and in the presence of time-dependent anisotropic Coulomb friction is considered. The equivalent variational formulation contains a quasi-variational inequality. After time discretization and application of the iteration method, the problem arising with “specified” friction is reduced to a non-convex miniumum functional problem, which is studied by Ball's scheme. The operator in contact stress space is determined. It is shown that a threshold level of the coefficient of friction corresponds to each level of loading, below which there is at least one fixed point of the operator. If the solution at a certain instant of time is known, the iteration process converges to the solution of the problem at the next, fairly close instant of time.     

立方准晶材料中的运动螺型位错

发展了立方准晶的位错弹性理论．通过引入位移势函数,使得立方准晶的反平面弹性动力学问题归结为求解两个波动方程,得到了运动螺型位错的位移场、应力场与能量的解析表达式及运动位错的速度极限．这些为研究此固体材料的塑性变形的物理机理提供了重要的信息．     

A thermo-mechanical energetic cohesive zone model accounting for Kapitza interfaces

The objective of this contribution is to study computational aspects of modeling thermo-mechanical solids containing mechanically energetic, geometrically non-coherent Kapitza interfaces under cyclic loading. The interface is termed energetic in the sense that it possesses its own energy, entropy, constitutive relations and dissipation. To date, classical thermo-mechanical cohesive zone models do not account for elastic interfaces. Therefore we propose a novel interface model that couples the classical cohesive zone formulation to the interface elasticity theory under the Kapitza assumption within a thermo-mechanical framework. In other words, such an interface model allows for discontinuities in geometry, temperature and normal stress fields, while not permitting a jump in the normal heat flux across the interface. The equations governing a fully non-linear transient problem are given. In particular, a comparison is made between the results of the classical thermo-mechanical cohesive zone model and our novel (cohesive + energetic Kapitza) interface formulation. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On boundary-volume element discretization of inhomogenous elastodynamic problems

This paper presents an integral equation formulation and its discretization scheme for the elastodynamic problem in which the material properties are prescribed as arbitrary, continuous and differentiable functions of the spatial coordinates. The formulation is made by using the Green's function for the corresponding problem in homogenous elasticity. From a weighted residual statement of the problem, the governing differential equation is transformed into a set of the integral equations in the inner domain as well as on the boundary. These integral equations are discretized by introducing a finite number of the boundary-volume-time elements, and the solution for the system of linear equations thus obtained is discussed.