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We discuss ellipticity property within the linear couple-stress elasticity. In this theory, there exists a deformation energy density introduced as a function of strains and gradient of macrorotations, where the latter are expressed through displacements. So the couple-stress theory could be treated as a particular class of strain gradient elasticity. Within the micropolar elasticity, the model is called Cosserat pseudocontinuum or medium with constrained rotations. Applying the classic definitions of ordinary ellipticity and strong ellipticity to static equations of the couple-stress theory, we conclude that these equations are neither elliptic nor strongly elliptic. As a result, one should be aware of extending properties of full strain gradient models such as Toupin–Mindlin strain gradient elasticity to models with incomplete set of second derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the material symmetry group of the micropolar continuum and related consistently simplified constitutive equations. Following Eremeyev and Pietraszkiewicz (Int J Solid Struct 2012; 49: 1993–2005; Generalized continua as models for materials, Heidelberg: Springer, 2013, 77–90) we extend the definition of the group proposed by Eringen and Kafadar (Continuum physics, vol. 4, New York, NY: Academic Press, 1976, 1–75) by taking into account the microstructure curvature tensor as well as different transformation properties of polar (true) and axial (pseudo) tensors. Our material symmetry group consists of ordered triples of tensors which make the strain energy density of the micropolar continuum invariant under change of the reference placement. Within micropolar solids we discuss the isotropic, hemitropic, orthotropic, transversely isotropic and clinotropic materials and give explicitly the consistently reduced representations of the strain energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We extend the material symmetry group of the non-linear polar-elastic continuum by taking into account microstructure curvature tensors as well as different transformation properties of polar and axial tensors. The group consists of an ordered triple of tensors which makes the strain energy density of polar-elastic continuum invariant under change of reference placement. An analog of the Noll rule is established. Four simple specific cases of the group with corresponding reduced forms of the strain energy density are discussed. Definitions of polar-elastic fluids, solids, liquid crystals and subfluids are given in terms of members of the symmetry group. Within polar-elastic solids we discuss in more detail isotropic, hemitropic, cubic-symmetric, transversely isotropic, and orthotropic materials and give explicitly corresponding reduced representations of the strain energy density. For physically linear polar-elastic solids, when the density becomes a quadratic function of strain measures, reduced representations of the density are established for monoclinic, orthotropic, cubic-symmetric, hemitropic and isotropic materials in terms of appropriate joint scalar invariants of stretch, wryness and undeformed structure curvature tensors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We discuss the general linear six-parametric theory of plates based on the direct approach. We consider the plate as a deformable surface. Each material point of the surface can be regarded as an infinitesimal small rigid body with six degrees of freedom. The kinematics of the plate is described by using the vector of translation and the vector of rotation as the independent variables. The relations between the equilibrium conditions of a three-dimensional micropolar plate-like body and the two-dimensional equilibrium equations of the deformable surface are established. Using the three-dimensional constitutive equations of a micropolar material we discuss the determination of the effective stiffness tensors appearing in the two-dimensional constitutive equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For micropolar media we present a new definition of the local material symmetry group considering invariant properties of the both kinetic energy and strain energy density under changes of a reference placement. Unlike simple (Cauchy) materials, micropolar media can be characterized through two kinematically independent fields, that are translation vector and orthogonal microrotation tensor. In other words, in micropolar continua we have six degrees of freedom (DOF) that are three DOFs for translations and three DOFs for rotations. So the corresponding kinetic energy density nontrivially depends on linear and angular velocity. Here we define the local material symmetry group as a set of ordered triples of tensors which keep both kinetic energy density and strain energy density unchanged during the related change of a reference placement. The triples were obtained using transformation rules of strain measures and microinertia tensors under replacement of a reference placement. From the physical point of view, the local material symmetry group consists of such density-preserving transformations of a reference placement, that cannot be experimentally detected. So the constitutive relations become invariant under such transformations. Knowing a priori a material's symmetry, one can establish a simplified form of constitutive relations. In particular, the number of independent arguments in constitutive relations could be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the six-parameter nonlinear shell theory we analyzed the in-plane rotational instability which occurs under in-plane tensile loading. For plane deformations the considered shell model coincides up to notations with the geometrically nonlinear Cosserat continuum under plane stress conditions. So we considered here both large translations and rotations. The constitutive relations contain some additional micropolar parameters with so-called coupling factor that relates Cosserat shear modulus with the Cauchy shear modulus. The discussed instability relates to the bifurcation from the static solution without rotations to solution with non-zero rotations. So we call it rotational instability. We present an elementary discrete model which captures the rotational instability phenomenon and the results of numerical analysis within the shell model. The dependence of the bifurcation condition on the micropolar material parameters is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the research direction of Horst Lippmann during his whole scientific career was devoted to the possibilities to explain complex material behavior by generalized continua models. A representative of such models is the Cosserat continuum. The basic idea of this model is the independence of translations and rotations (and by analogy, the independence of forces and moments). With the help of this model some additional effects in solid and fluid mechanics can be explained in a more satisfying manner. They are established in experiments, but not presented by the classical equations. In this paper the Cosserat-type theories of plates and shells are debated as a special application of the Cosserat theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]