Minimization variational principles for acoustics, elastodynamics, and electromagnetism in lossy inhomogeneous bodies at fixed frequency

The classical energy minimization principles of Dirichlet and Thompson are extended as minimization principles to acoustics, elastodynamics and electromagnetism in lossy inhomogeneous bodies at fixed frequency. This is done by building upon ideas of Cherkaev and Gibiansky, who derived minimization variational principles for quasistatics. In the absence of free current the primary electromagnetic minimization variational principles have a minimum which is the time-averaged electrical power dissipated in the body. The variational principles provide constraints on the boundary values of the fields when the moduli are known. Conversely, when the boundary values of the fields have been measured, then they provide information about the values of the moduli within the body. This should have application to electromagnetic tomography. We also derive saddle point variational principles which correspond to variational principles of Gurtin, Willis, and Borcea.Comment: 32 pages 0 figures (Previous version omitted references

Reconstruction and stability in acousto-optic imaging for absorption maps with bounded variation

The aim of this paper is to propose for the first time a reconstruction scheme and a stability result for recovering from acoustic-optic data absorption distributions with bounded variation. The paper extends earlier results on smooth absorption distributions. It opens a door for a mathematical and numerical framework for imaging, from internal data, parameter distributions with high contrast in biological tissues

The postulations á la D'Alembert and á la Cauchy for higher gradient continuum theories are equivalent. A review of existing results

In order to found continuum mechanics, two different postulations have been used. The first, introduced by Lagrange and Piola, starts by postulating how the work expended by internal interactions in a body depends on the virtual velocity field and its gradients. Then, by using the divergence theorem, a representation theorem is found for the volume and contact interactions which can be exerted at the boundary of the considered body. This method assumes an a priori notion of internal work, regards stress tensors as dual of virtual displacements and their gradients, deduces the concept of contact interactions and produces their representation in terms of stresses using integration by parts. The second method, conceived by Cauchy and based on the celebrated tetrahedron argument, starts by postulating the type of contact interactions which can be exerted on the boundary of every (suitably) regular part of a body. Then it proceeds by proving the existence of stress tensors from a balance-type postulate. In this paper, we review some relevant literature on the subject, discussing how the two postulations can be reconciled in the case of higher gradient theories. Finally, we underline the importance of the concept of contact surface, edge and wedge s-order forces

On the forces that cable webs under tension can support and how to design cable webs to channel stresses

In many applications of Structural Engineering the following question arises: given a set of forces $\mathbf{f}_1,\mathbf{f}_2,\dots,\mathbf{f}_N$ applied at prescribed points $\mathbf{x}_1,\mathbf{x}_2,\dots,\mathbf{x}_N$, under what constraints on the forces does there exist a truss structure (or wire web) with all elements under tension that supports these forces? Here we provide answer to such a question for any configuration of the terminal points $\mathbf{x}_1,\mathbf{x}_2,\dots,\mathbf{x}_N$ in the two- and three-dimensional case. Specifically, the existence of a web is guaranteed by a necessary and sufficient condition on the loading which corresponds to a finite dimensional linear programming problem. In two-dimensions we show that any such web can be replaced by one in which there are at most $P$ elementary loops, where elementary means the loop cannot be subdivided into subloops, and where $P$ is the number of forces $\mathbf{f}_1,\mathbf{f}_2,\dots,\mathbf{f}_N$ applied at points strictly within the convex hull of $\mathbf{x}_1,\mathbf{x}_2,\dots,\mathbf{x}_N$. In three-dimensions we show that, by slightly perturbing $\mathbf{f}_1,\mathbf{f}_2,\dots,\mathbf{f}_N$, there exists a uniloadable web supporting this loading. Uniloadable means it supports this loading and all positive multiples of it, but not any other loading. Uniloadable webs provide a mechanism for distributing stress in desired ways.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Convergence of Hencky-type discrete beam model to euler inextensible elastica in large deformation: Rigorous proof

The present chapter concerns rigorous homogenization of a Hencky-type discrete beam model, which is useful for the numerical study of complex fibrous systems as pantographic sheets as well as woven fabrics. -convergence of the discrete model towards the inextensible Euler’s beam model is proven and the result is established for placements in Rd in large deformation regime