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We formulate a series of strong ellipticity inequalities for equilibrium equations of the gradient elasticity up to the Nth order. Within this model of a continuum, there exists a deformation energy introduced as an objective function of deformation gradients up to the Nth order. As a result, the equilibrium equations constitute a system of 2 N -order nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). Using these inequalities for a boundary-value problem with the Dirichlet boundary conditions, we prove the positive definiteness of the second variation of the functional of the total energy. In other words, we establish sufficient conditions for infinitesimal instability. Here, we restrict ourselves to a particular class of deformations which includes affine deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Using an unified approach based on the local material symmetry group introduced for general first- and second-order strain gradient elastic media, we analyze the constitutive equations of strain gradient fluids. For the strain gradient medium there exists a strain energy density dependent on first- and higher-order gradients of placement vector, whereas for fluids a strain energy depends on a current mass density and its gradients. Both models found applications to modeling of materials with complex inner structure such as beam-lattice metamaterials and fluids at small scales. The local material symmetry group is formed through such transformations of a reference placement which cannot be experimentally detected within the considered material model. We show that considering maximal symmetry group, i.e. material with strain energy that is independent of the choice of a reference placement, one comes to the constitutive equations of gradient fluids introduced independently on general strain gradient continua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We call nonlinear dilatational strain gradient elasticity the theory in which the specific class of dilatational second gradient continua is considered: those whose deformation energy depends, in an objective way, on the gradient of placement and on the gradient of the determinant of the gradient of placement. It is an interesting particular case of complete Toupin–Mindlin nonlinear strain gradient elasticity: indeed, in it, the only second gradient effects are due to the inhomogeneous dilatation state of the considered deformable body. The dilatational second gradient continua are strictly related to other generalized models with scalar (one-dimensional) microstructure as those considered in poroelasticity. They could be also regarded to be the result of a kind of "solidification" of the strain gradient fluids known as Korteweg or Cahn–Hilliard fluids. Using the variational approach we derive, for dilatational second gradient continua the Euler–Lagrange equilibrium conditions in both Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions. In particular, we show that the considered continua can support contact forces concentrated on edges but also on surface curves in the faces of piecewise orientable contact surfaces. The conditions characterizing the possible externally applicable double forces and curve forces are found and examined in detail. As a result of linearization the case of small deformations is also presented. The peculiarities of the model is illustrated through axial deformations of a thick-walled elastic tube and the propagation of dilatational waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of existence and uniqueness of weak solutions to boundary value problems describing an elastic body with weakly nonlocal surface elasticity is presented. The chosen model incorporates the surface strain energy as a quadratic function of the surface strain tensor and the surface deformation gradients up to Nth order. The virtual work principle, extended for higher‐order strain gradient media, serves as a basis for defining the weak solution. In order to characterize the smoothness of such solutions, certain energy functional spaces of Sobolev type are introduced. Compared with the solutions obtained in classical linear elasticity, weak solutions for solids with surface stresses are smoother on the boundary; more precisely, a weak solution belongs to H1(V)∩HN(Ss) where Ss⊂S≡∂V and V⊂R3. A study of existence and uniqueness of weak solutions to boundary value problems describing an elastic body with weakly nonlocal surface elasticity is presented. The chosen model incorporates the surface strain energy as a quadratic function of the surface strain tensor and the surface deformation gradients up to Nth order. The virtual work principle, extended for higher‐order strain gradient media, serves as a basis for defining the weak solution..... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the strong ellipticity (SE) conditions for strain gradient and micromorphic continua considering them as an enhancement of a simple nonlinearly elastic material called in the following primary material. Recently both models are widely used for description of material behavior of beam-lattice metamaterials which may possess various types of material instabilities. We analyze how a possible loss of SE results in the behavior of enhanced models. We shown that SE conditions for a micromorphic medium is more restrictive than for its gradient counterpart. On the other hand we see that a violation of SE for a primary material affects solutions within enhanced models even if the SE conditions are fulfilled for them. • Strong ellipticity (SE) conditions are compared for nonlinear strain gradient (SG) and micromorphic (MM) elasticity. • Relations between SE of enhanced models and of simple nonlinear elastic (primary) material are clarified. • SE within SG approach is independent on SE of primary material, whereas SE of MM model elasticity inherits it partially. • Both models regularize primary material behavior, so non-existence of solutions is avoided. • SE conditions bring information on material instabilities within enhanced models of continua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the strong ellipticity (SE) condition within the Toupin–Mindlin first strain gradient elasticity theory. SE condition is closely related to certain material instabilities and describes mathematical properties of corresponding boundary-value problems. For isotropic solids, SE condition transforms into two inequalities in terms of five gradient-elastic moduli. • Strong ellipticity (SE) conditions within Toupin–Mindlin first strain gradient elasticity are formulated. • For an isotropic material, SE conditions transform into two inequalities in terms gradient-elastic moduli. • SE conditions and uniqueness of solutions were discussed. • SE conditions and characteristic lengths for a few materials are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss connections between the strong ellipticity condition and the infinitesimal instability within the nonlinear strain gradient elasticity. The strong ellipticity (SE) condition describes the property of equations of statics whereas the infinitesimal stability is introduced as the positive definiteness of the second variation of an energy functional. Here we establish few implications which simplify the further analysis of stability using formulated SE conditions. The results could be useful for the analysis of solutions of homogenized models of beam-lattice materials at different scales. • Nonlinear strain gradient elasticity is studied. • First- and second-order strong ellipticity conditions (1st and 2nd SE) are formulated. • Relations between SE and infinitesimal stability is clarified. • Infinitesimal stability implies the weak form of 2nd SE. • 1st and 2nd SE imply infinitesimal stability of affine deformations. • Infinitesimal stability could be proven even without SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is proven an existence and uniqueness theorem for weak solutions of the equilibrium problem for linear isotropic dilatational strain gradient elasticity. Considered elastic bodies have as deformation energy the classical one due to Lamé but augmented with an additive term that depends on the norm of the gradient of dilatation: only one extra second gradient elastic coefficient is introduced. The studied class of solids is therefore related to Korteweg or Cahn–Hilliard fluids. The postulated energy naturally induces the space in which the aforementioned well-posedness result can be formulated. In this energy space, the introduced norm does involve the linear combination of some specific higher-order derivatives only: it is, in fact, a particular example of anisotropic Sobolev space. It is also proven that aforementioned weak solutions belongs to the space H 1 (d i v , V) , i.e. the space of H 1 functions whose divergence belongs to H 1 . The proposed mathematical frame is essential to conceptually base, on solid grounds, the numerical integration schemes required to investigate the properties of dilatational strain gradient elastic bodies. Their energy, as studied in the present paper, has manifold interests. Mathematically speaking, its singularity causes interesting mathematical difficulties whose overcoming leads to an increased understanding of the theory of second gradient continua. On the other hand, from the mechanical point of view, it gives an example of energy for a second gradient continuum which can sustain externally applied surface forces and double forces but cannot sustain externally applied surface couples. In this way, it is proven that couple stress continua, introduced by Toupin, represent only a particular case of the more general class of second gradient continua. Moreover, it is easily checked that for dilatational strain gradient continua, balance of force and balance of torques (or couples) are not enough to characterise equilibrium: to this aim, externally applied surface double forces must also be specified. As a consequence, the postulation scheme based on variational principles seems more suitable to study second gradient continua. It has to be remarked finally that dilatational strain gradient seems suitable to model the experimentally observed behaviour of some material used in 3D printing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]