Length scales at which classical elasticity breaks down for various materials

At what characteristic length scale does classical continuum elasticity cease to accurately describe small deformation mechanical behavior? The two dominant physical mechanisms that lead to size dependency of elastic behavior at the nanoscale are surface energy effects and nonlocal interactions. The latter arises due to the discrete structure of matter and the fluctuations in the interatomic forces that are smeared out within the phenomenological elastic modulus at coarser sizes. While surface energy effects have been well characterized in the literature, little is known about the length scales at which nonlocal effects manifest for different materials. Using a combination of empirical molecular dynamics and lattice dynamics (empirical and ab initio), we provide estimates of nonlocal elasticity length scales for various classes of materials: semiconductors, metals, amorphous solids, and polymers.     

Fluctuations in granular media

Dense slowly evolving or static granular materials exhibit strong force fluctuations even though the spatial disorder of the grains is relatively weak. Typically, forces are carried preferentially along a network of "force chains." These consist of linearly aligned grains with larger-than-average force. A growing body of work has explored the nature of these fluctuations. We first briefly review recent work concerning stress fluctuations. We then focus on a series of experiments in both two- and three-dimension [(2D) and (3D)] to characterize force fluctuations in slowly sheared systems. Both sets of experiments show strong temporal fluctuations in the local stress/force; the length scales of these fluctuations extend up to 10(2) grains. In 2D, we use photoelastic disks that permit visualization of the internal force structure. From this we can make comparisons to recent models and calculations that predict the distributions of forces. Typically, these models indicate that the distributions should fall off exponentially at large force. We find in the experiments that the force distributions change systematically as we change the mean packing fraction, gamma. For gamma's typical of dense packings of nondeformable grains, we see distributions that are consistent with an exponential decrease at large forces. For both lower and higher gamma, the observed force distributions appear to differ from this prediction, with a more Gaussian distribution at larger gamma and perhaps a power law at lower gamma. For high gamma, the distributions differ from this prediction because the grains begin to deform, allowing more grains to carry the applied force, and causing the distributions to have a local maximum at nonzero force. It is less clear why the distributions differ from the models at lower gamma. An exploration in gamma has led to the discovery of an interesting continuous or "critical" transition (the strengthening/softening transition) in which the mean stress is the order parameter, and the mean packing fraction, gamma, must be adjusted to a value gamma(c) to reach the "critical point." We also follow the motion of individual disks and obtain detailed statistical information on the kinematics, including velocities and particle rotations or spin. Distributions for the azimuthal velocity, V(theta), and spin, S, of the particles are nearly rate invariant, which is consistent with conventional wisdom. Near gamma(c), the grain motion becomes intermittent causing the mean velocity of grains to slow down. Also, the length of stress chains grows as gamma-->gamma(c). The 3D experiments show statistical rate invariance for the stress in the sense that when the power spectra and spectral frequencies of the stress time series are appropriately scaled by the shear rate, Omega, all spectra collapse onto a single curve for given particle and sample sizes. The frequency dependence of the spectra can be characterized by two different power laws, P proportional, variant omega(-alpha), in the high and low frequency regimes: alpha approximately 2 at high omega; alpha<2 at low omega. The force distributions computed from the 3D stress time series are at least qualitatively consistent with exponential fall-off at large stresses. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

On the microscopic foundations of elasticity

The modeling of the elastic properties of disordered or nanoscale solids requires the foundations of the theory of elasticity to be revisited, as one explores scales at which this theory may no longer hold. The only cases for which microscopically based derivations of elasticity are documented are (nearly) uniformly strained lattices. A microscopic approach to elasticity is proposed. As a first step, microscopically exact expressions for the displacement, strain and stress fields are derived. Conditions under which linear elastic constitutive relations hold are studied theoretically and numerically. It turns out that standard continuum elasticity is not self-evident, and applies only above certain spatial scales, which depend on details of the considered system and boundary conditions. Possible relevance to granular materials is briefly discussed. Received 18 March 2002 and Received in final form 29 May 2002     

On correct nonlocal generalized theories of elasticity

The paper discusses nonlocal elasticity theories among which are models of media with defect fields, gradient elasticity theories, and hybrid nonlocal elasticity theories. Gradient theories are analyzed, and their correctness properties are examined. Applied theories that satisfy the correctness conditions are developed, and known applied gradient theories are verified for the correctness properties. A new nonlocal generalized theory has been developed for which the operator of balance equations is represented as the product of the equilibrium operator of classical elasticity theory and the Helmholtz operator. It is shown that this theory is one-parameter and is the only representative of hybrid models constructed by a complete system of equations for forces and moments. Unlike classical elasticity that is free from scale parameters characterizing the internal material structure, nonlocal elasticity theories naturally incorporate these parameters. That is why they are suitable for the modeling of scale effects and find application in the solution of numerous applied problems for heterogeneous structures with developed phase interfaces where the degree of influence of scale effects depends on the density of phase boundaries. Nonlocal continuum models are especially attractive for modeling the properties of various micro/nanostructures, elastic properties of composites and structured materials with submicron- and nanosized internal structures in which effective properties are to a great extent defined by the scale effects (short-range interaction effects of cohesion and adhesion). Generalized elasticity theories even for isotropic materials contain many additional physical constants that are difficult or impossible to determine experimentally. Applied models with a small number of additional physical parameters are therefore of great interest. However, the reduction of nonlocal theories aimed at reducing the number of additional parameters is a nontrivial task and may lead to incorrect theories. The goal of this paper is to study the symmetry properties in gradient theories, to analyze the correctness of gradient theories, and to develop applied one-parameter elasticity theories.     

Filament-length-controlled elasticity in 3D fiber networks

We present a model for disordered 3D fiber networks to study their linear and nonlinear elasticity. In contrast to previous 2D models, these 3D networks with binary crosslinks are underconstrained with respect to fiber stretching elasticity, suggesting that bending may dominate their response. We find that such networks exhibit a bending-dominated elastic regime controlled by fiber length, as well as a crossover to a stretch-dominated regime for long fibers. Finally, by extending the model to the nonlinear regime, we show that these networks become intrinsically nonlinear with a vanishing linear response regime in the limit of flexible or long filaments.     

Local observation in eternal inflation

We consider landscape models that admit several regions where the conditions for eternal inflation hold. It is shown that one can use the no-boundary wave function to calculate small departures from homogeneity within our past light cone despite the possibility of much larger fluctuations on super horizon scales. The dominant contribution comes from the history exiting eternal inflation at the lowest value of the potential. In a class of landscape models this predicts a tensor to scalar ratio of about 10%. In this way the no-boundary wave function defines a measure for the prediction of local cosmological observations.     

Glass breaks like metal,but at the nanometer scale

We report in situ atomic force microscopy experiments which reveal the presence of nanoscale damage cavities ahead of a stress-corrosion crack tip in glass. Their presence might explain the departure from linear elasticity observed in the vicinity of a crack tip in glass. Such a ductile fracture mechanism, widely observed in the case of metallic materials at the micrometer scale, might be also at the origin of the striking similarity of the morphologies of fracture surfaces of glass and metallic alloys at different length scales.     

Nonlocal and surface effects on the buckling behavior of functionally graded nanoplates: An isogeometric analysis

The size-dependent static buckling responses of circular, elliptical and skew nanoplates made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are investigated in this article based on an isogeometric model. The Eringen nonlocal continuum theory is implemented to capture nonlocal effects. According to the Gurtin–Murdoch surface elasticity theory, surface energy influences are also taken into account by the consideration of two thin surface layers at the top and bottom of nanoplate. The material properties vary in the thickness direction and are evaluated using the Mori–Tanaka homogenization scheme. The governing equations of buckled nanoplate are achieved by the minimum total potential energy principle. To perform the isogeometric analysis as a solution methodology, a novel matrix-vector form of formulation is presented. Numerical examples are given to study the effects of surface stress as well as other important parameters on the critical buckling loads of functionally graded nanoplates. It is found that the buckling configuration of nanoplates at small scales is significantly affected by the surface free energy.     

Asymmetric Brane-World Scenarios and Simulated Gravity

I review the main aspects of the simulated gravity that arises in brane-world models in which the reflection symmetry is broken. I recall its main aspects, show how a Newton-like force can be simulated on small scales, and discuss the post-Newtonian constraints as well as the cosmology of this model.     

Renormalization Group Approach to Multiscale Modelling in Materials Science

Dendritic growth, and the formation of material microstructure in general, necessarily involves a wide range of length scales from the atomic up to sample dimensions. The phase field approach of Langer, enhanced by optimal asymptotic methods and adaptive mesh refinement, copes with this range of scales, and provides an effective way to move phase boundaries. However, it fails to preserve memory of the underlying crystallographic anisotropy, and thus is ill-suited for problems involving defects or elasticity. The phase field crystal (PFC) equation—a conserving analogue of the Swift-Hohenberg equation—is a phase field equation with periodic solutions that represent the atomic density. It can natively model elasticity, the formation of solid phases, and accurately reproduces the nonequilibrium dynamics of phase transitions in real materials. However, the PFC models matter at the atomic scale, rendering it unsuitable for coping with the range of length scales in problems of serious interest. Here, we show that a computationally-efficient multiscale approach to the PFC can be developed systematically by using the renormalization group or equivalent techniques to derive appropriate coarse-grained coupled phase and amplitude equations, which are suitable for solution by adaptive mesh refinement algorithms. PACS numbers: 81.16.Rf, 05.10.Cc, 61.72.Cc, 81.15.Aa     

Tailoring magnetism in artificially structured materials: the new frontier

The current standard of electronic devices and data storage media has reached a level such that magnetic materials have to be fabricated on a nanometer scale. In particular, the emerging concept of spintronics, which is based on fact that current carriers have not only charge but also spin, requires the assembling of nanometer-sized magnetic structures with desired magnetic properties. It is this background that motivates scientists and engineers to attempt to grow and characterize magnetic objects at smaller and smaller length scales, from 2D films and multilayers to 1D wires and eventually to 0D dots. In this article, some of the most significant progress in recent years in the effort of growing artificially structured magnetic materials are reviewed. The new structural and magnetic properties of these materials are discussed, with an emphasis on the correlation between structure and magnetism, which also serves as guidance for improving their magnetic properties. The emerging emphasis is on converting the existing knowledge into growing and studying low-dimensional complex materials, which promise to have considerably higher “tuning” ability for desired properties.     

Phase transitions and soft elasticity of smectic elastomers

Smectic-C elastomers can be prepared by cross-linking, e.g., liquid crystal polymers, in the smectic-A phase followed by a cooling through the smectic-A to smectic-C phase transition. This transition from D(infinityh) to C(2h) symmetry spontaneously breaks rotational symmetry in the smectic plane as does the transition from a smectic-A to a biaxial smectic phase with D(2h) symmetry. We study these transitions and the emergent elasticity of the smectic-C and biaxial phases in three related models and show that these phases exhibit soft elasticity analogous to that of nematic elastomers.     

Particle structuring under the effect of an uniaxial deformation in soft/hard nanocomposites

A model nanocomposite sample, made of rigid monodisperse spherical inclusions in a deformable matrix, was uniaxially stretched. The displacement field of the particles at the sample surface is analyzed using atomic force microscopy. It is shown that its 2D structure factor presents most of the characteristic features previously described from scattering experiments on similar materials. At the scale of the particles, distortions from affinity are observed. They can be explained by the radial interactions between neighboring inclusions, related to the mechanical confinement of the matrix between particles. At larger scales, remarkable alignments of particles are observed along a direction which is roughly perpendicular to the stretching direction. We show that this effect is found in other soft/hard nanocomposites. It may contribute to the mechanical properties of this class of heterogeneous materials.     

Numerical modelling of foam Couette flows

A numerical computation based on a tensorial visco-elasto-plastic model based on continuous mechanics is compared to experimental measurements on liquid foams for a bidimensional Couette flow between two glass plates, both in stationary and transient cases. The main features of the model are elasticity up to a plastic yield stress, and viscoelasticity above it. The effect of the friction of the plates is taken into account. The numerical modelling is based on a small set of standard material parameters that are fully characterised. Shear localisation as well as acute transient observations are reproduced and agree with experimental measurements. The plasticity appears to be the fundamental mechanism of the localisation of the flow. Finally, the present approach could be extended from liquid foams to similar materials such as emulsions, colloids or wet granular materials, that exhibit localisation.     

Roughness of stylolites: implications of 3D high resolution topography measurements

Stylolites are natural pressure-dissolution surfaces in sedimentary rocks. We present 3D high resolution measurements at laboratory scales of their complex roughness. The topography is shown to be described by a self-affine scaling invariance. At large scales, the Hurst exponent is zeta(1) approximately 0.5 and very different from that at small scales where zeta(2) approximately 1.2. A crossover length scale at around L(c)=1 mm is well characterized. Measurements are consistent with a Langevin equation that describes the growth of a stylolitic interface as a competition between stabilizing long range elastic interactions at large scales or local surface tension effects at small scales and a destabilizing quenched material disorder.     

Dislocation field theory in 2D: Application to graphene

A two-dimensional (2D) dislocation continuum theory is being introduced. The present theory adds elastic rotation, dislocation density, and background stress to the classical energy density of elasticity. This theory contains four material moduli. Two characteristic length scales are defined in terms of the four material moduli. Non-singular solutions of the stresses and elastic distortions of an edge dislocation are calculated. It has been pointed out that the elastic strain agrees well with experimental data found recently for an edge dislocation in graphene.     

An immersed boundary energy-based method for incompressible viscoelasticity

Incompressible viscoelastic materials are prevalent in biological applications. In this paper we present a method for incompressible viscoelasticity in which the elasticity of the material is described in Lagrangian form (i.e. in material coordinates), and Eulerian (spatial) coordinates are used for the equations of motion and to enforce the incompressibility condition. The elastic forces are computed directly from an energy functional without the use of stress tensors, and the immersed boundary method is used to communicate between Lagrangian and Eulerian variables. The method is first applied to a warm-up problem, in which a viscoelastic incompressible material fills a two-dimensional periodic domain. For this problem, we study convergence of the velocity field, the deformation map, and the Eulerian force density. The numerical results indicate that the velocity field and deformation map converge strongly at second order and the Eulerian force density converges weakly at second order. Incompressibility is well maintained, as indicated by area conservation in this 2D problem. Finally, the method is applied to a three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction problem with two different materials: an isotropic neo-Hookean model and an anisotropic fiber-reinforced model.     

Universal elasticity and fluctuations of nematic gels

We study elasticity of spontaneously orientationally ordered amorphous solids, characterized by a vanishing transverse shear modulus, as realized by nematic elastomers and gels. We show that local heterogeneities and elastic nonlinearities conspire to lead to anomalous nonlocal universal elasticity controlled by a nontrivial infrared fixed point. Namely, such solids are characterized by universal shear and bending moduli that, respectively, vanish and diverge at long scales, are universally incompressible, and exhibit a universal negative Poisson ratio and a non-Hookean elasticity down to arbitrarily low strains. Based on expansion about five dimensions, we argue that the nematic order is stable to thermal fluctuation and local heterogeneities down to d(lc)<3.     

On the validity of Hertz contact law for granular material acoustics

We discuss the acoustical behavior of a 1D model of granular medium, which is a chain of identical spherical beads. In this geometry, we are able to test quantitatively alternative models to the Hertz theory of contact between elastic solids. We compare the predictions of the different models to experimental results that concern linear sound wave propagation in the chain submitted to a static force, and nonlinear solitary wave propagation in an unconstrained chain. We use elastic, elastic-plastic and brittle materials, the beads roughness extends on one order of magnitude, and we also use oxidized metallic beads. We demonstrate experimentally that at low static forces, for all types of beads, the linear acoustic waves propagate in the system as predicted by Hertz's theory. At larger forces, after onset of permanent plastic deformation at the contacts, the brass beads exhibit non Hertzian behavior, and hysteresis. Except in the case of brass beads, the nonlinear waves follow the predictions of Hertz theory. Revised: 28 May 1998 / Accepted: 27 July 1998