On some fundamental misunderstandings in the indeterminate couple stress model. A comment on recent papers of A.R. Hadjesfandiari and G.F. Dargush

In a series of papers which are either published [A.R. Hadjesfandiari and G.F. Dargush, Couple stress theory for solids, Int. J. Solids Struct. 48, 2496-2510, 2011; A.R. Hadjesfandiari and G.F. Dargush, Fundamental solutions for isotropic size-dependent couple stress elasticity, Int. J. Solids Struct. 50, 1253-1265, 2013] or available as preprints Hadjesfandiari and Dargush have reconsidered the linear indeterminate couple stress model. They are postulating a certain physically plausible split in the virtual work principle. Based on this postulate they claim that the second-order couple stress tensor must always be skew-symmetric. Since they use an incomplete set of boundary conditions in their virtual work principle their statement contains unrecoverable errors. This is shown by specifying their development to the isotropic case. However, their choice of constitutive parameters is mathematically possible and still yields a well-posed boundary value problem.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1504.0086

The relaxed linear micromorphic continuum: well-posedness of the static problem and relations to the gauge theory of dislocations

In this paper we consider the equilibrium problem in the relaxed linear model of micromorphic elastic materials. The basic kinematical fields of this extended continuum model are the displacement $u\in \mathbb{R}^3$ and the non-symmetric micro-distortion density tensor $P\in \mathbb{R}^{3\times 3}$. In this relaxed theory a symmetric force-stress tensor arises despite the presence of microstructure and the curvature contribution depends solely on the micro-dislocation tensor ${\rm Curl}\, P$. However, the relaxed model is able to fully describe rotations of the microstructure and to predict non-polar size-effects. In contrast to classical linear micromorphic models, we allow the usual elasticity tensors to become positive-semidefinite. We prove that, nevertheless, the equilibrium problem has a unique weak solution in a suitable Hilbert space. The mathematical framework also settles the question of which boundary conditions to take for the micro-distortion. Similarities and differences between linear micromorphic elasticity and dislocation gauge theory are discussed and pointed out.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1308.376

Complete band gaps including non-local effects occur only in the relaxed micromorphic model

In this paper we substantiate the claim implicitly made in previous works that the relaxed micromorphic model is the only linear, isotropic, reversibly elastic, nonlocal generalized continuum model able to describe complete band-gaps on a phenomenological level. To this end, we recapitulate the response of the standard Mindlin-Eringen micromorphic model with the full micro-distortion gradient of P, the relaxed micromorphic model depending only on the Curl P of the micro-distortion P, and a variant of the standard micromorphic model in which the curvature depends only on the divergence Div P of the micro distortion. The Div-model has size-effects but the dispersion analysis for plane waves shows the incapability of that model to even produce a partial band gap. Combining the curvature to depend quadratically on Div P and Curl P shows that such a model is similar to the standard Mindlin-Eringen model which can eventually show only a partial band gap

Wave propagation in relaxed micromorphic continua: modelling metamaterials with frequency band-gaps

In this paper the relaxed micromorphic model proposed in [Patrizio Neff, Ionel-Dumitrel Ghiba, Angela Madeo, Luca Placidi, Giuseppe Rosi. A unifying perspective: the relaxed linear micromorphic continuum, submitted, 2013, arXiv:1308.3219; and Ionel-Dumitrel Ghiba, Patrizio Neff, Angela Madeo, Luca Placidi, Giuseppe Rosi. The relaxed linear micromorphic continuum: existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence in dynamics, submitted, 2013, arXiv:1308.3762] has been used to study wave propagation in unbounded continua with microstructure. By studying dispersion relations for the considered relaxed medium, we are able to disclose precise frequency ranges (band-gaps) for which propagation of waves cannot occur. These dispersion relations are strongly nonlinear so giving rise to a macroscopic dispersive behavior of the considered medium. We prove that the presence of band-gaps is related to a unique elastic coefficient, the so-called Cosserat couple modulus $\mu_{c}$, which is also responsible for the loss of symmetry of the Cauchy force stress tensor. This parameter can be seen as the trigger of a bifurcation phenomenon since the fact of slightly changing its value around a given threshold drastically changes the observed response of the material with respect to wave propagation. We finally show that band-gaps cannot be accounted for by classical micromorphic models as well as by Cosserat and second gradient ones. The potential fields of application of the proposed relaxed model are manifold, above all for what concerns the conception of new engineering materials to be used for vibration control and stealth technology