Uniformity of the Green operator and Eshelby tensor for hyperboloidal domains in infinite media

Since Eshelby’s (1957) result (Eshelby, JD. The determination of the elastic field of an ellipsoidal inclusion and related problems. Proc R Soc London A 1957; 421: 379–396) that ellipsoids in an infinite matrix have uniform localization tensors, all attempts to find other finite domain shapes sharing that same property have failed and valuable proofs were provided that none could exist. Since that “uniformity property” also applies to infinite cylinders and layers as limits of prolate and oblate spheroids, we examine the cases of hyperboloidal domains of which infinite cylinders and platelets also are the limits. As members of the quadric surface family, hyperboloids expectably also have uniform Eshelby tensor and Green operator when embedded in infinite media, with specific features expectable too from unboundedness and not convex curvatures. Using the Radon transform method applied by the author to various inclusion shapes, as well as to finite and infinite patterns, since the uniformity of a shape function (inverse Radon transform of the domain indicator function) implies the uniformity of the related Green operator and Eshelby tensor, we examine the shape functions of axially symmetric hyperboloids. We establish that those of the two-sheet types are uniform and those of the one-sheet types are not, an additional neck-related term carrying the non-uniformity. The Green operators are next examined in considering an isotropic embedding medium with elastic- (including dielectric-) like properties. The results regarding the operator (non) uniformity correspond to those concerning the shape functions. The established operator uniformity characteristics imply validity of all Eshelby-derived ellipsoid properties. Yet, determining the Green operator solution calls for overcoming the issue of the infinite hyperbolic planar sections (the operator finiteness), with also attention being paid to positive definiteness. Options are compared from which an obtained satisfying solution with regard to both issues raises questioning theoretical and practical points on mathematical and mechanical grounds. While further studies are in progress, some application tracks are indicated.

Green’s Function and Eshelby’s Tensor Based on Mindlin’s 2nd Gradient Model: An Explicit Study of Cylindrical Inclusion Case

Based on Mindlin’s 2nd gradient model that involves two length-scale parameters, Green’s function, Eshelby tensor and Eshelby-like tensor for an inclusion of arbitrary shape are derived. It is proved that the Eshelby tensor consists of two parts: the classical Eshelby tensor and a gradient part including the length-scale parameters, which enable the interpretation of the size effect. When the strain gradient is not taken into account, the obtained Green’s function and Eshelby tensor reduce to its analogue based on the classical elasticity. For the cylindrical inclusion case, the Eshelby tensor in and outside the inclusion, the volume average of the gradient part and the Eshelby-like tensor are explicitly obtained. Unlike the classical Eshelby tensor, the results show that the components of the new Eshelby tensor vary with the position and the inclusion dimensions. It is demonstrated that the contribution of the gradient part should not be neglected.

Applicability of the interface spring model for micromechanical analyses with interfacial imperfections to predict the modified exterior Eshelby tensor and effective modulus

Closed-form solutions for the modified exterior Eshelby tensor, strain concentration tensor, and effective moduli of particle-reinforced composites are presented when the interfacial damage is modeled as a linear-spring layer of vanishing thickness; the solutions are validated against finite element analyses. Based on the closed-form solutions, the applicability of the interface spring model is tested by calculating those quantities using finite element analysis augmented with a matrix–inhomogeneity non-overlapping condition. The results indicate that the interface spring model reasonably captures the characteristics of the stress distribution and effective moduli of composites, despite its well-known problem of unphysical overlapping between the matrix and inhomogeneity.

Micromechanics-based homogenization of the effective physical properties of composites with an anisotropic matrix and interfacial imperfections

Micromechanics-based homogenization has been employed extensively to predict the effective properties of technologically important composites. In this review article, we address its application to various physical phenomena, including elasticity, thermal and electrical conduction, electric and magnetic polarization, as well as multi-physics phenomena governed by coupled equations such as piezoelectricity and thermoelectricity. Especially, we introduce several research works published recently from our research group that consider the anisotropy of the matrix and interfacial imperfections in obtaining various effective physical properties. We begin with a brief review of the concept of the Eshelby tensor with regard to the elasticity and mean-field homogenization of the effective stiffness tensor of a composite with a perfect interface between the matrix and inclusions. We then discuss the extension of the theory in two aspects. First, we discuss the mathematical analogy among steady-state equations describing the aforementioned physical phenomena and explain how the Eshelby tensor can be used to obtain various effective properties. Afterwards, we describe how the anisotropy of the matrix and interfacial imperfections, which exist in actual composites, can be accounted for. In the last section, we provide a summary and outlook considering future challenges.