MICROCONTINUUM APPROACH IN FRACTURE MECHANICS.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of the theory of micropolar continua in fracture mechanics. The theory of micropolar continua is concerned with material media whose constituents are dumbbell molecules. These elements are allowed to rotate independently, without stretch. In other words, besides the macro deformation, the microrotation of the elements of the media, represented by an axial vector, is also taken into account. However, this microrotation vector, which is found to be responsible for developing a couple stress in the field, is kinematically independent and is not related to the displacement vector. Physically solid propellant grains, polymeric materials and fiberglas are but a few examples for such materials. The theory is expected to find applications in the treatment of microcracks and microfracture. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0690964

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Zika
  • Teoman Ariman

Organizations

  • University of Notre Dame

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Displacement
  • Energetic Materials
  • Fracture (Mechanics)
  • Materials
  • Mechanics
  • Molecules
  • Propellant Grains
  • Propellants
  • Solid Propellants

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Materials Science and Engineering.