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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]