Plane-strain crack problems in microstructured solids governed by dipolar gradient elasticity

The present study aims at determining the elastic stress and displacement fields around the tips of a finite-length crack in a microstructured solid under remotely applied plane-strain loading (mode I and II cases). The material microstructure is modeled through the Toupin-Mindlin generalized continuum theory of dipolar gradient elasticity. According to this theory, the strain-energy density assumes the form of a positive-definite function of the strain tensor (as in classical elasticity) and the gradient of the strain tensor (additional term). A simple but yet rigorous version of the theory is employed here by considering an isotropic linear expression of the elastic strain-energy density that involves only three material constants (the two Lamé constants and the so-called gradient coefficient). First, a near-tip asymptotic solution is obtained by the Knein-Williams technique. Then, we attack the complete boundary value problem in an effort to obtain a full-field solution. Hypersingular integral equations with a cubic singularity are formulated with the aid of the Fourier transform. These equations are solved by analytical considerations on Hadamard finite-part integrals and a numerical treatment. The results show significant departure from the predictions of standard fracture mechanics. In view of these results, it seems that the classical theory of elasticity is inadequate to analyze crack problems in microstructured materials. Indeed, the present results indicate that the stress distribution ahead of the crack tip exhibits a local maximum that is bounded. Therefore, this maximum value may serve as a measure of the critical stress level at which further advancement of the crack may occur. Also, in the vicinity of the crack tip, the crack-face displacement closes more smoothly as compared to the standard result and the strain field is bounded. Finally, the J-integral (energy release rate) in gradient elasticity was evaluated. A decrease of its value is noticed in comparison with the classical theory. This shows that the gradient theory predicts a strengthening effect since a reduction of crack driving force takes place as the material microstructure becomes more pronounced.     

Uniqueness for plane crack problems in linear elastostatics

Summary This paper contains a proof of the uniqueness of solution to the traction boundary value problem in linear elastostatics for a bounded domain containing a crack. Attention is restricted to the two-dimensional case, but the elastic material considered need not be homogeneous or isotropic. In addition to the hypotheses assumed in the standard uniqueness theorem of Kirchhoff, it is required that the displacement field be bounded near the crack tips.

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Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Beweis für die Eindeutigkeit der Lösung der Traktionsrandwertaufgabe in der zweidimensionalen linearen Elastostatik für ein beschränktes Bereich das einen Riss enthält.

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The results communicated in this paper were obtained in the course of an investigation partially supported by Contract N00014-67-A-0094-0020 of the California Institute of Technology with the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C.     

An approach based on distributed dislocations and disclinations for crack problems in couple-stress elasticity

The technique of distributed dislocations proved to be in the past an effective approach in studying crack problems within classical elasticity. The present work is intended to extend this technique in studying crack problems within couple-stress elasticity, i.e. within a theory accounting for effects of microstructure. This extension is not an obvious one since rotations and couple-stresses are involved in the theory employed to analyze the crack problems. Here, the technique is introduced to study the case of a mode I crack. Due to the nature of the boundary conditions that arise in couple-stress elasticity, the crack is modeled by a continuous distribution of climb dislocations and constrained wedge disclinations (the concept of ‘constrained wedge disclination’ is first introduced in the present work). These distributions create both standard stresses and couple stresses in the body. In particular, it is shown that the mode-I case is governed by a system of coupled singular integral equations with both Cauchy-type and logarithmic kernels. The numerical solution of this system shows that a cracked solid governed by couple-stress elasticity behaves in a more rigid way (having increased stiffness) as compared to a solid governed by classical elasticity. Also, the stress level at the crack-tip region is appreciably higher than the one predicted by classical elasticity.     

New integral equation for plane elasticity crack problems

In the usual formulation of singular equation approach for crack problems in plane elasticity [1,2], if one changes the right-hand term of the integral equation from tractions to resultant forces, a new integral equation can be obtained and is presented in this paper. The newly obtained integral equation has a log singular kernel. Interpolation equation for the dislocation functions (the undetermined functions in the integral equations) is proposed. Numerical examination is used to demonstrate the efficiency of the present technique, and a number of numerical examples are given.     

The Boussinesq problem in dipolar gradient elasticity

The three-dimensional axisymmetric Boussinesq problem of an isotropic half-space subjected to a concentrated normal quasi-static load is studied within the framework of dipolar gradient elasticity involving linear constitutive relations and small strains. Our main concern is to determine possible deviations from the predictions of classical linear elastostatics when a more refined theory is employed to attack the problem. Of special importance is the behavior of the new solution near to the point of application of the load where pathological singularities exist in the classical solution. The use of the theory of gradient elasticity is intended here to model the response of materials with microstructure in a manner that the classical theory cannot afford. A linear version of this theory (as regards both kinematics and constitutive response) results by considering a linear isotropic expression for the strain-energy density that depends on strain gradient terms, in addition to the standard strain terms appearing in classical elasticity and by considering small strains. Through this formulation, a microstructural material constant is introduced, in addition to the standard Lamé constants. The solution method is based on integral transforms and is exact. The present results show significant departure from the predictions of classical elasticity. Indeed, continuous and bounded displacements are predicted at the points of application of the concentrated load. Such a behavior of the displacement field is, of course, more natural than the singular behavior exhibited in the classical solution.     

Uniqueness of the concentrated-load problem in the linear theory of couple-stress elasticity

Summary It is pointed out that there exist at least two different solutions of the problem of concentrated loads in the two-dimensional, linear couple-stress theory when the formulation is based on the usual uniqueness theorem. An extension of this uniqueness theorem is proved. A set of conditions sufficient for uniqueness is found and is used in a formulation of the concentrated load problem which results in a unique solution. The significant new condition is that the order of the stress singularity is limited to O(r^–1), where r is the distance from the concentrated load.

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Sommario Si fa notare che esistono almeno due soluzioni diverse del problema dei carichi concentrati nella teoria lineare, a due dimensioni, delle coppie di volume quando la formulazione è basata sul teorema di unicità.Si dimostra una estensione di questo teorema di unicità. Si trova un gruppo di condizioni sufficienti per l'unicità; queste condizioni vengono usate nella formulazione del problema del carico concentrato che dà luogo ad un'unica soluzione.La nuova condizione significativa è che l'ordine della singolarità dello sforzo è limitato a O(r^–1), dove r è la distanza dal carico concentrato.

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This work is a result of research sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy, under Contract Nonr-610(06).     

Energy theorems and the J-integral in dipolar gradient elasticity

Within the framework of Mindlin’s dipolar gradient elasticity, general energy theorems are proved in this work. These are the theorem of minimum potential energy, the theorem of minimum complementary potential energy, a variational principle analogous to that of the Hellinger–Reissner principle in classical theory, two theorems analogous to those of Castigliano and Engesser in classical theory, a uniqueness theorem of the Kirchhoff–Neumann type, and a reciprocal theorem. These results can be of importance to computational methods for analyzing practical problems. In addition, the J-integral of fracture mechanics is derived within the same framework. The new form of the J-integral is identified with the energy release rate at the tip of a growing crack and its path-independence is proved.The theory of dipolar gradient elasticity derives from considerations of microstructure in elastic continua [Mindlin, R.D., 1964. Microstructure in linear elasticity. Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. 16, 51–78] and is appropriate to model materials with periodic structure. According to this theory, the strain-energy density assumes the form of a positive-definite function of the strain (as in classical elasticity) and the second gradient of the displacement (additional term). Specific cases of the general theory considered here are the well-known theory of couple-stress elasticity and the recently popularized theory of strain-gradient elasticity. The latter case is also treated in the present study.     

Balance laws and energy release rates for cracks in dipolar gradient elasticity

It is the purpose of this work to derive the balance laws (in the Günther–Knowles–Sternberg sense) pertaining to dipolar gradient elasticity. The theory of dipolar gradient (or grade 2) elasticity derives from considerations of microstructure in elastic continua [Mindlin, R.D., 1964. Microstructure in linear elasticity. Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. 16, 51–78] and is appropriate to model materials with periodic structure. According to this theory, the strain–energy density assumes the form of a positive-definite function of the strain (as in classical elasticity) and the gradient of both strain and rotation (additional terms). The balance laws are derived here through a more straightforward procedure than the one usually employed in classical elasticity (i.e. Noether’s theorem). Indeed, the pertinent balance laws are obtained through the action of the standard operators of vector calculus (grad, curl and div) on appropriate forms of the Hamiltonian of the system under consideration. These laws are directly related to the energy release rates in the processes of crack translation, rotation and self-similar expansion. Under certain conditions, they are identified with conservation laws and path-independent integrals are obtained.     

Some C0-continuous mixed formulations for general dipolar linear gradient elasticity boundary value problems and the associated energy theorems

The goal of this work is a systematic presentation of some classes of mixed weak formulations, for general multi-dimensional dipolar gradient elasticity (fourth order) boundary value problems. The displacement field main variable is accompanied by the double stress tensor and the Cauchy stress tensor (case 1 or μ ? τ ? u formulation), the double stress tensor alone (case 2 or μ ? u formulation), the double stress, the Cauchy stress, the displacement second gradient and the standard strain field (case 3 or μ ? τ ? κ ? ε ? u formulation) and the displacement first gradient, along with the equilibrium stress (case 4 or u ? θ ? γ formulation). In all formulations, the respective essential conditions are built in the structure of the solution spaces. For cases 1, 2 and 4, one-dimensional analogues are presented for the purpose of numerical comparison. Moreover, the standard Galerkin formulation is depicted. It is noted that the standard Galerkin weak form demands C¹-continuous conforming basis functions. On the other hand, up to first order derivatives appear in the bilinear forms of the current mixed formulations. Hence, standard C⁰-continuous conforming basis functions may be employed in the finite element approximations. The main purpose of this work is to provide a reference base for future numerical applications of this type of mixed methods. In all cases, the associated quadratic energy functionals are formed for the purpose of completeness.     

SOME IDENTITY RELATIONS BETWEEN PLANE PROBLEMS FOR VISCO-AND ELASTICITY

I.IntroductionThereareimportantapplicationsfortheor}:ofplanea'iscoelasticit}'Inthefieldsofgeology,miningandconstructingetc.,butformostproblemsofviscoelastici[}'.theirsolutionsareobtainedfromthecorrespondingelasticsolutionsb}'"leansofthecorrespondenceprinc…     

The finite-element-force method for solving plane problems of elasticity

Using elements in the form of arbitrary sectors, the author has devised a plan for solving plane problems of elasticity by the force method. The method is characterized by a smaller number of nodes, a more convenient computation and a perfect adaptability to the particular shape of the region in question.     

The method of caustics for static plane elasticity problems

By use of the complex stress function analysis of Muskhelishvili-Kolosov and conformal mapping procedures the general governing equations of the method of caustics or shadow spot technique have been developed for optically isotropic and anisotropic materials in static plane elasticity theory. Special cases of caustics formed about cutouts, cracks, and various singular regions in static elastic stress fields are obtained upon specialization.     

The problem of sharp notch in couple-stress elasticity

The problem of sharp notch in couple-stress elasticity is considered in this paper. The problem involves a sharp notch in a body of infinite extent. The body has microstructural properties, which are assumed to be characterized by couple-stress effects. Both symmetric and anti-symmetric loadings at remote regions are considered under plane-strain conditions. The faces of the notch are considered traction free. To determine the field around the tip of the notch, a boundary-layer approach is followed by considering an expansion of the displacements in a form of separated variables in a polar coordinate system. Our analysis is in the spirit of the Knein–Williams and Karp–Karal asymptotic techniques but it is much more involved than its corresponding analysis of standard elasticity due to the complicated boundary value problem (higher-order system of governing PDEs and additional boundary conditions as compared to the standard theory). Eventually, an eigenvalue problem is formulated and this, along with the restriction of a bounded potential energy, provides the asymptotic fields. The cases of a crack and a half-space are analyzed as limit cases of the general notch problem. Certain deviations from the standard classical elasticity results are noted.     

Fredholm integral equation for the multiple circular arc crack problem in plane elasticity

Summary An elementary solution for the multiple circular arc problem is obtained in this paper. The elementary solution is defined as a particular case of the single circular arc crack problem, in which remote stresses are equal to zero, and two pairs of concentrated forces are applied at a prescribed point of crack face. By using the principle of superposition, Fredholm integral equation for the multiple circular arc problem in plane elasticity is obtained. The suggested approach is illustrated by several numerical examples. If a smaller arc crack is surrounded by a larger arc crack, the stress intensity factors for the former become rather small. The phenomenon of shielding is illustrated by examples. Accepted for publication 17 September 1996     

The more general displacement solutions for the plane elasticity problems

In this paper,the author obtains the more general displacement solutions for theisotropic plane elasticity problems.The general solution obtained in ref.[1 ]is merelythe particular case of this paper,In comparison with ref.[1],the general solutions ofthis paper contain more arbitrary constants.Thus they may satisfy more boundaryconditions.     

A stress analytical solution for Mode III crack within modified gradient elasticity

The strain gradient exists near a crack tip may significantly influence the near-tip stress field. In this paper, the strain gradient and the internal length scales are introduced into the basic equations of mode III crack by the modified gradient elasticity (MGE). By using a complex function approach, the analytical solution of stress fields for mode III crack problem is derived within MGE. When the internal length scales vanish, the stress fields can be simplified to the stress fields of classical linear elastic fracture mechanics. The results show that the singularity of the shear stress is made up of two parts, r^−1/2 part and r^−3/2 part, and the sign of the stress σ_yz changes. With the increase of l_x, the peak value of σ_yz decrease and its location moves farther from the fracture vertex. The influence of strain gradient for mode III crack problem cannot be ignored.