Shape memory behaviour: modelling within continuum thermomechanics

A phenomenological material model to represent the multiaxial material behaviour of shape memory alloys is proposed. The material model is able to represent the main effects of shape memory alloys: the one-way shape memory effect, the two-way shape memory effect due to external loads, the pseudoelastic and pseudoplastic behaviour as well as the transition range between pseudoelasticity and pseudoplasticity.The material model is based on a free energy function and evolution equations for internal variables. By means of the free energy function, the energy storage during thermomechanical processes is described. Evolution equations for internal variables, e.g. the inelastic strain tensor or the fraction of martensite are formulated to represent the dissipative material behaviour. In order to distinguish between different deformation mechanisms, case distinctions are introduced into the evolution equations. Thermomechanical consistency is ensured in the sense that the constitutive model satisfies the Clausius–Duhem inequality.Finally, some numerical solutions of the constitutive equations for isothermal and non-isothermal strain and stress processes demonstrate that the various phenomena of the material behaviour are well represented. This applies for uniaxial processes and for non-proportional loadings as well.     

Thermomechanical material modelling based on a hybrid free energy density depending on pressure,isochoric deformation and temperature

In order to represent temperature-dependent mechanical material properties in a thermomechanical consistent manner it is common practice to start with the definition of a model for the specific Helmholtz free energy. Its canonical independent variables are the Green strain tensor and the temperature. But to represent calorimetric material properties under isobaric conditions, for example the exothermal behaviour of a curing process or the dependence of the specific heat on the temperature history, the temperature and the pressure should be taken as independent variables. Thus, in the field of calorimetry the Gibbs free energy is usually used as thermodynamic potential whereas in continuum mechanics the Helmholtz free energy is normally applied. In order to simplify the representation of calorimetric phenomena in continuum mechanics a hybrid free energy density is introduced. Its canonical independent variables are the isochoric Green strain tensor, the pressure and the temperature. It is related to the Helmholtz free energy density by a Legendre transformation. In combination with the additive split of the stress power into the sum of isochoric and volumetric terms this approach leads to thermomechanical consistent constitutive models for large deformations. The article closes with applications of this approach to finite thermoelasticity, curing adhesives and the glass transition.     

On the representation of chemical ageing of rubber in continuum mechanics

In order to represent the chemical ageing behaviour of rubber under finite deformations a three-dimensional theory is proposed. The fundamentals of this approach are different decompositions of the deformation gradient in combination with an additive split of the Helmholtz free energy into three parts. Its first part belongs to the volumetric material behaviour. The second part is a temperature-dependent hyperelasticity model which depends on an additional internal variable to consider the long-term degradation of the primary rubber network. The third contribution is a functional of the deformation history and a further internal variable; it describes the creation of a new network which remains free of stress when the deformation is constant in time. The constitutive relations for the stress tensor and the internal variables are deduced using the Clausius–Duhem inequality. In order to sketch the main properties of the model, expressions in closed form are derived with respect to continuous and intermittent relaxation tests as well as for the compression set test. Under the assumption of near incompressible material behaviour, the theory can also represent ageing-induced changes in volume and their effect on the stress relaxation. The simulations are in accordance with experimental data from literature.     

Constraints, Constitutive Limits, and Instability in Finite Thermoelasticity

This paper examines all the possible types of thermomechanical constraints in finite-deformational elasticity. By a thermomechanical constraint we mean a functional relationship between a mechanical variable, either the deformation gradient or the stress, and a thermal variable, temperature, entropy or one of the energy potentials; internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, Gibbs free energy or enthalpy. It is shown that for the temperature-deformation, entropy-stress, enthalpy-deformation, and Helmholtz free energy-stress constraints equilibrium states are unstable, in the sense that certain perturbations of the equilibrium state grow exponentially. By considering the constrained materials as constitutive limits of unconstrained materials, it is shown that the instability is associated with the violation of the Legendre–Hadamard condition on the internal energy. The entropy-deformation, temperature-stress, internal energy-stress, and Gibbs free energy-deformation constraints do not exhibit this instability. It is proposed that stability of the rest state (or equivalently convexity of internal energy) is a necessary requirement for a model to be physically valid, and hence entropy-deformation, temperature-stress, internal energy-stress, and Gibbs free energy-deformation constraints are physical, whereas temperature-deformation constraints (including the customary notion of thermal expansion that density is a function of temperature only), entropy-stress constraints, enthalpy-deformation constraints, and Helmholtz free energy-stress constraints are not.     

Load-induced oriented damage and anisotropy of rock-like materials

Theoretical model for deformability of brittle rock-like materials in the presence of an oriented damage of their internal structure is formulated and verified experimentally. This model is based on the assumption that non-linearity of the stress–strain curves of these materials is a result of irreversible process of oriented damage growth. It was also assumed that a material response, represented by the strain tensor, is a function of two tensorial variables: the stress tensor and the damage effect tensor that is responsible for the current state of the internal structure of the material. The explicit form of the respective non-linear stress–strain relations that account for the appropriate damage evolution equation was obtained by employing the theory of tensor function representations and by using the results of own experiments on damage growth. Such an oriented damage that grows in the material, described by the second order symmetric damage effect tensor, results in gradual development of the material anisotropy. The validity of the constitutive equations proposed was verified by using the available experimental results for concrete subjected to the plane state of stress. The relevant experimental data for sandstone and concrete subjected to tri-axial state of stress were also used.     

A novel internal dissipation inequality by isotropy and its implication for inelastic constitutive characterization

In the present work a novel inelastic deformation caused internal dissipation inequality by isotropy is revealed. This inequality has the most concise form among a variety of internal dissipation inequalities, including the one widely used in constitutive characterization of isotropic finite strain elastoplasticity and viscoelasticiy. Further, the evolution term describing the difference between the rate of deformation tensor and the “principal rate” of the elastic logarithmic strain tensor is set, according to the standard practice by isotropy, to equal a rank-two isotropic tensor function of the corresponding branch stress, with the tensor function having an eigenspace identical to the eigenspace of the branch stress tensor. Through that a general form of evolution equation for the elastic logarithmic strain is formulated and some interesting and important results are derived. Namely, by isotropy the evolution of the elastic logarithmic strain tensor is embodied separately by the evolutions of its eigenvalues and eigenprojections, with the evolution of the eigenprojections driven by the rate of deformation tensor and the evolution of the eigenvalues connected to specific material behavior. It can be proved that by isotropy the evolution term in the present dissipation inequality stands for the essential form of the evolution term in the extensively applied dissipation inequality.     

On thermodynamic potentials in thermoelasticity under small strain and finite thermal perturbation assumptions

Expressions for thermodynamic potentials (internal energy, Helmholtz energy, Gibbs energy and enthalpy) of a thermoelastic material are developed under the assumption of small strains and finite changes in the thermal variable (temperature or entropy). The literature provides expressions for the Helmholtz energy in terms of strain and temperature, most often as expansions to the second order in strain and to a higher order in temperature changes, which ensures an affine stress–strain relation and a certain temperature dependence of the moduli of the material. Expressions are here developed for the four potentials in terms of all four possible pairs of independent variables. First, an expression is obtained for each potential as a quadratic function of its natural mechanical variable with coefficients depending on its natural thermal variable that are identified in terms of the moduli of the material. The form of the coefficients’ dependence on the thermal variable is not specified beforehand so as to obtain the most general expressions compatible with an affine stress–strain relation. Then, from each potential expressed in terms of its natural variables, expressions are derived for the other three potentials in terms of these same variables using the Gibbs–Helmholtz equations. The paper provides a thermodynamic framework for the constitutive modeling of thermoelastic materials undergoing small strains but finite changes in the thermal variables, the properties of which are liable to depend on the thermal variables.     

Size-effects on yield surfaces for micro reinforced composites

Size effects in heterogeneous materials are studied using a rate independent higher order strain gradient plasticity theory, where strain gradient effects are incorporated in the free energy of the material. Numerical studies are carried out using a finite element method, where the components of the plastic strain tensor appear as free variables in addition to the displacement variables. Non-conventional boundary conditions are applied at material interfaces to model a constraint on plastic flow due to dislocation blocking. Unit cell calculations are carried out under generalized plane strain conditions. The homogenized response of a material with cylindrical reinforcing fibers is analyzed for different values of the internal material length scale and homogenized yield surfaces are presented. While the main focus is on initial yield surfaces, subsequent yield surfaces are also presented. The center of the yield surface is tracked under uniaxial loading both in the transverse and longitudinal directions and an anisotropic Bauschinger effect is shown to depend on the size of the fibers. Results are compared to conventional predictions, and size-effects on the kinematic hardening are accentuated.     

Second gradient viscoelastic fluids: dissipation principle and free energies

We consider a generalization of the constitutive equation for an incompressible second order fluid, by including thermal and viscoelastic effects in the expression for the stress tensor. The presence of the histories of the strain rate tensor and its gradient yields a non-simple material, for which the laws of thermodynamics assume a appropriate modified form. These laws are expressed in terms of the internal mechanical power which is evaluated, using the dynamical equation for the fluid. Generalized thermodynamic constraints on the constitutive equation are presented. The required properties of free energy functionals are discussed. In particular, it is shown that they differ from the standard Graffi conditions. Various free energy functionals, which are well-known in relation to simple materials, are generalized so that they apply to this fluid. In particular, expressions for the minimum free energy and a more recently introduced explicit functional of the minimal state are proposed. Derivations of various formulae are abbreviated if closely analogous proofs already exist in the literature.     

A theory of thermo-visco-elastic-plastic materials: thermomechanical coupling in simple shear

The constitutive relations of a theory of thermo-visco-elastic-plastic continuum have been formulated in Lagrangian form. The Lagrangian strains, strain rates, temperature, temperature rate and temperature gradients are considered as the independent constitutive variables. Three internal state variables (plastic strain tensor, back strain tensor and a scalar hardening parameter) are also incorporated. The axioms of objectivity and equipresence are followed. The Clausius–Duhem inequality is taken as the second law of thermodynamics. Several special theories are deduced based on material symmetries and/or conventionally adopted assumptions. The applications to the formation of shear bands and dynamic crack propagation are discussed.     

On thermoelastic dielectrics

Constitutive equations for a linear thermoelastic dielectric are derived from the energy balance equation assuming dependence of the stored energy function on the strain tensor, the polarization vector, the polarization gradient tensor and entropy. A method is indicated for constructing a hierarchy of constitutive equations for materials with arbitrary symmetry by introducing various thermodynamic potentials. Maxwell's relations are constructed for the thermodynamic potential W^L. The entropy inequality is used to obtain stability conditions for an elastic dielectric in equilibrium under prescribed boundary constraints. Frequencies are explicitly determined for a plane wave propagating along the x₁-axis in an infinite centro-symmetric isotropic thermoelastic dielectric.     

On the modelling of anisotropic material behaviour in viscoplasticity

A uniaxial viscoplastic deformation is motivated as a discrete sequence of stable and unstable equilibrium states and approximated by a smooth family of stable states of equilibrium depending on the history of the mechanical process. Three-dimensional crystal viscoplasticity starts from the assumption that inelastic shearings take place on slip systems, which are known from the particular geometric structure of the crystal. A constitutive model for the behaviour of a single crystal is developed, based on a free energy, which decomposes into an elastic and an inelastic part. The elastic part, the isothermal strain energy, depends on the elastic Green strain and allows for the initial anisotropy, known from the special type of the crystal lattice. Additionally, the strain energy function contains an orthogonal tensor-valued internal variable representing the orientation of the anisotropy axes. This orientation develops according to an evolution equation, which satisfies the postulate of full invariance in the sense that it is an observer-invariant relation. The inelastic part of the free energy is a quadratic function of the integrated shear rates and corresponding internal variables being equivalent to backstresses in order to consider kinematic hardening phenomena on the slip system level. The evolution equations for the shears, backstresses and crystallographic orientations are thermomechanically consistent in the sense that they are compatible with the entropy inequality. While the general theory applies to all types of lattices, specific test calculations refer to cubic symmetry (fcc) and small elastic strains. The simulations of simple tension and compression processes of a single crystal illustrates the development of the crystallographic axes according to the proposed evolution equation. In order to simulate the behaviour of a polycrystal the initial orientations of the anisotropy axes are assumed to be space-dependent but piecewise constant, where each region of a constant orientation corresponds to a grain. The results of the calculation show that the initially isotropic distribution of the orientation changes in a physically reasonable manner and that the intensity of this process-induced texture depends on the specific choice of the material constants.     

The Payne effect in finite viscoelasticity: constitutive modelling based on fractional derivatives and intrinsic time scales

As we know from experimental testing, the stiffness behaviour of carbon black-filled elastomers under dynamic deformations is weakly dependent on the frequency of deformation but strongly dependent on the amplitude. Increasing strain amplitudes lead to a decrease in the dynamic stiffness, which is known as the Payne effect. In this essay, we develop a constitutive approach of finite viscoelasticity to represent the Payne effect in the context of continuum mechanics. The starting point for the constitutive model resulting from this development is the theory of finite linear viscoelasticity for incompressible materials, where the free energy is assumed to be a linear functional of the relative Piola strain tensor. Motivated by the weak frequency dependence of the dynamic stiffness of reinforced rubber, the memory kernel of the free energy functional is of the Mittag Leffler type. We demonstrate that the model is compatible with the Second Law of Thermodynamics and equal to a fractional differential equation between the overstress of the Second Piola Kirchhoff type and the Piola strain tensor. In order to represent the dependence of the dynamic stiffness on the amplitude of strain, we replace the physical time by an intrinsic time variable. The temporal evolution of the intrinsic time is driven by an internal variable, which is a measure for the current state of the material's microstructure. The material constants of the model are estimated using a stochastic identification algorithm of the Monte Carlo type. We demonstrate that the constitutive approach pursued here represents the combined frequency and amplitude dependence of filler-reinforced rubber. In comparison with the micromechanical Kraus model developed for sinusoidal strains, the theory set out in this essay allows the representation of the stress response under arbitrary loading histories.     

Nonlinear Eulerian thermoelasticity for anisotropic crystals

A complete continuum thermoelastic theory for large deformation of crystals of arbitrary symmetry is developed. The theory incorporates as a fundamental state variable in the thermodynamic potentials what is termed an Eulerian strain tensor (in material coordinates) constructed from the inverse of the deformation gradient. Thermodynamic identities and relationships among Eulerian and the usual Lagrangian material coefficients are derived, significantly extending previous literature that focused on materials with cubic or hexagonal symmetry and hydrostatic loading conditions. Analytical solutions for homogeneous deformations of ideal cubic crystals are studied over a prescribed range of elastic coefficients; stress states and intrinsic stability measures are compared. For realistic coefficients, Eulerian theory is shown to predict more physically realistic behavior than Lagrangian theory under large compression and shear. Analytical solutions for shock compression of anisotropic single crystals are derived for internal energy functions quartic in Lagrangian or Eulerian strain and linear in entropy; results are analyzed for quartz, sapphire, and diamond. When elastic constants of up to order four are included, both Lagrangian and Eulerian theories are capable of matching Hugoniot data. When only the second-order elastic constant is known, an alternative theory incorporating a mixed Eulerian–Lagrangian strain tensor provides a reasonable approximation of experimental data.     

Macro–micro relations in granular mechanics

In granular mechanics, macroscopic approaches treat a granular material as an equivalent continuum at macro-scale, and study its constitutive relationship between macro-quantities, such as stresses and strains. On the other hand, microscopic approaches consider a granular material as an assembly of individual particles interacting with each other at micro-scale (i.e., particle-scale), and the physical quantities under study are forces and displacements. This paper aims at linking up the findings from these two scales and to establish the macro–micro relations in granular mechanics.Three aspects of the macro–micro relations are investigated. They are about the internal structure, the stress tensor and the strain tensor. The internal structure is described with geometrical systems at the particle scale. Micro-structural definitions of the stress and strain tensors are derived, which link the macro-stress tensor with the contact forces, and the macro-strain tensor with the relative displacements at contact. In addition to a brief review of the past research work on these topics, further generalizations are made in this paper. In particular, the two cell systems proposed by Li and Li (2009), namely the solid cell system and the void cell system, are introduced and used for the derivation of the macro-structural expressions. The stress expression is derived based on Newton’s second law of motion. The result is valid for both static and dynamic cases. The strain expression is derived based on the compatibility requirement. And the expression is valid for any tessellation subdividing the granular assembly into polyhedral elements.The homogenization for deriving a macroscopic constitutive relationship from microscopic behaviour is discussed. Attention is placed on the macroscopic quantification of the internal structure in terms of a second rank tensor, known as the fabric tensor. Existing definitions of the fabric tensors have been reviewed. The correlations among different fabric tensors and their relations with the stress–strain behaviours have been investigated.     

A second gradient theoretical framework for hierarchical multiscale modeling of materials

A theoretical framework for the hierarchical multiscale modeling of inelastic response of heterogeneous materials is presented. Within this multiscale framework, the second gradient is used as a nonlocal kinematic link between the response of a material point at the coarse scale and the response of a neighborhood of material points at the fine scale. Kinematic consistency between these scales results in specific requirements for constraints on the fluctuation field. The wryness tensor serves as a second-order measure of strain. The nature of the second-order strain induces anti-symmetry in the first-order stress at the coarse scale. The multiscale internal state variable (ISV) constitutive theory is couched in the coarse scale intermediate configuration, from which an important new concept in scale transitions emerges, namely scale invariance of dissipation. Finally, a strategy for developing meaningful kinematic ISVs and the proper free energy functions and evolution kinetics is presented.     

On tensorial forms of thermodynamic potentials in mixtures theory

Four thermodynamic tensorial quantities, equivalents of the thermodynamic potentials, namely the chemical potential tensor, the tensor of enthalpy, the tensor of free energy and the tensor of internal energy are presented. The last three of them are proposed in this paper and connections between all of these tensors are derived. The tensorial forms of the thermodynamic potentials are expressed in terms of four possible pairs of independent state variables. A set of sixteen alternative expressions, four for each tensorial form of the thermodynamic potential are derived and their importance discussed.