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Patrizio Neff

Publications and source records attributed to Patrizio Neff.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2021

Boundary and interface conditions in the relaxed micromorphic model: exploring finite-size metastructures for elastic wave control

In this paper, we establish well-posed boundary and interface conditions for the relaxed micromorphic model that are able to unveil the scattering response of fully finite-size metamaterials' samples. The resulting relaxed micromorphic boundary value problem is implemented in finite element simulations describing the scattering of a square metamaterial's sample whose side counts 9 unit cells. The results are validated against a direct finite element simulation encoding all the details of the underlying metamaterial's microstructure. The relaxed micromorphic model can recover the scattering metamaterial's behavior for a wide range of frequencies and for all possible angles of incidence, thus showing that it is suitable to describe dynamic anisotropy. Finally, thanks to the model's computational performances, we can design a metastructure combining metamaterials and classical materials in such a way that it acts as a protection device while providing energy focusing in specific collection points. These results open important perspectives for the short-term design of sustainable structures that can control elastic waves and recover energy.

physics.app-ph↗
arXiv2021

Analytical solution of the cylindrical torsion problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua (including full derivations)

We solve the St.Venant torsion problem for an infinite cylindrical rod whose behaviour is described by a family of isotropic generalized continua, including the relaxed micromorphic and classical micromorphic model. The results can be used to determine the material parameters of these models. Special attention is given to the possible nonphysical stiffness singularity for a vanishing rod diameter, since slender specimens are in general described as stiffer.

math.CA↗
arXiv2021

A hybrid H1xH(curl) finite element formulation for a relaxed micromorphic continuum model of antiplane shear

One approach for the simulation of metamaterials is to extend an associated continuum theory concerning its kinematic equations, and the relaxed micromorphic continuum represents such a model. It incorporates the Curl of the nonsymmetric microdistortion in the free energy function. This suggests the existence of solutions not belonging to H1, such that standard nodal H1-finite elements yield unsatisfactory convergence rates and might be incapable of finding the exact solution. Our approach is to use base functions stemming from both Hilbert spaces H1 and H(curl), demonstrating the central role of such combinations for this class of problems. For simplicity, a reduced two-dimensional relaxed micromorphic continuum describing antiplane shear is introduced, preserving the main computational traits of the three-dimensional version. This model is then used for the formulation and a multi step investigation of a viable finite element solution, encompassing examinations of existence and uniqueness of both standard and mixed formulations and their respective convergence rates.

math.NA↗
arXiv2020

Analytical solutions of the cylindrical bending problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua (including full derivations)

We consider the cylindrical bending problem for an infinite plate as modelled with a family of generalized continuum models, including the micromorphic approach. The models allow to describe length scale effects in the sense that thinner specimens are comparatively stiffer. We provide the analytical solution for each case and exhibit the predicted bending stiffness. The relaxed micromorphic continuum shows bounded bending stiffness for arbitrary thin specimens, while classical micromorphic continuum or gradient elasticity as well as Cosserat models [35] exhibit unphysical unbounded bending stiffness for arbitrary thin specimens. This finding highlights the advantage of using the relaxed micromorphic model, which has a definite limit stiffness for small samples and which aids in identifying the relevant material parameters.

math.CA↗
arXiv2020

A constrained Cosserat shell model up to order $O(h^5)$: Modelling, existence of minimizers, relations to classical shell models and scaling invariance of the bending tensor

We consider a recently introduced geometrically nonlinear elastic Cosserat shell model incorporating effects up to order $O(h^5)$ in the shell thickness $h$. We develop the corresponding geometrically nonlinear constrained Cosserat shell model, we show the existence of minimizers for the $O(h^5)$ and $O(h^3)$ case and we draw some connections to existing models and classical shell strain measures. Notably, the role of the appearing new bending tensor is highlighted and investigated with respect to an invariance condition of Acharya [Int. J. Solids and Struct., 2000] which will be further strengthened.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

A rank-one convex, non-polyconvex isotropic function on $\operatorname{GL}^+(2)$ with compact connected sublevel sets

According to a 2002 theorem by Cardaliaguet and Tahraoui, an isotropic, compact and connected subset of the group $\operatorname{GL}^+(2)$ of invertible $2\times2-\,$matrices is rank-one convex if and only if it is polyconvex. In a 2005 Journal of Convex Analysis article by Alexander~Mielke, it has been conjectured that the equivalence of rank-one convexity and polyconvexity holds for isotropic functions on $\operatorname{GL}^+(2)$ as well, provided their sublevel sets satisfy the corresponding requirements. We negatively answer this conjecture by giving an explicit example of a function $W:\operatorname{GL}^+\to\mathbb{R}$ which is not polyconvex, but rank-one convex as well as isotropic with compact and connected sublevel sets.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

The isotropic Cosserat shell model including terms up to $O(h^5)$. Part II: Existence of minimizers

We show the existence of global minimizers for a geometrically nonlinear isotropic elastic Cosserat 6-parameter shell model. The proof of the main theorem is based on the direct methods of the calculus of variations using essentially the convexity of the energy in the nonlinear strain and curvature measures. We first show the existence of the solution for the theory including $O(h^5)$ terms. The energy allows us to show the coercivity for terms up to order $O(h^5)$ and the convexity of the energy. Secondly, we consider only that part of the energy including $O(h^3)$ terms. In this case the obtained minimization problem is not the same as those previously considered in the literature, since the influence of the curved initial shell configuration appears explicitly in the expression of the coefficients of the energies for the reduced two-dimensional variational problem and additional mixed bending-curvature and curvature terms are present. While in the theory including $O(h^5)$ the conditions on the thickness $h$ are those considered in the modelling process and they are independent of the constitutive parameter, in the $O(h^3)$-case the coercivity is proven on some more restrictive conditions under the thickness $h$.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

The isotropic Cosserat shell model including terms up to $O(h^5)$. Part I: Derivation in matrix notation

We present a new geometrically nonlinear Cosserat shell model incorporating effects up to order $O(h^5)$ in the shell thickness $h$. The method that we follow is an educated 8-parameter ansatz for the three-dimensional elastic shell deformation with attendant analytical thickness integration, which leads us to obtain completely two-dimensional sets of equations in variational form. We give an explicit form of the curvature energy using the orthogonal Cartan-decomposition of the wryness tensor. Moreover, we consider the matrix representation of all tensors in the derivation of the variational formulation, because this is convenient when the problem of existence is considered, and it is also preferential for numerical simulations. The step by step construction allows us to give a transparent approximation of the three-dimensional parental problem. The resulting 6-parameter isotropic shell model combines membrane, bending and curvature effects at the same time. The Cosserat shell model naturally includes a frame of orthogonal directors, the last of which does not necessarily coincide with the normal of the surface. This rotation-field is coupled to the shell-deformation and augments the well-known Reissner-Mindlin kinematics (one independent director) with so-called in-plane drill rotations, the inclusion of which is a decisive for subsequent numerical treatment and existence proofs. As a major novelty, we determine the constitutive coefficients of the Cosserat shell model in dependence on the geometry of the shell which are otherwise difficult to guess.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

Rank-one convexity vs. ellipticity for isotropic functions

It is well known that a twice-differentiable real-valued function $W:\operatorname{GL}^+(n)\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ on the group $\operatorname{GL}^+(n)$ of invertible $n\times n-$matrices with positive determinant is rank-one convex if and only if it is Legendre-Hadamard elliptic. Many energy functions arising from interesting applications in isotropic nonlinear elasticity, however, are not necessarily twice differentiable everywhere on $\operatorname{GL}^+(n)$, especially at points with non-simple singular values. Here, we show that if an isotropic function $W$ on $\operatorname{GL}^+(n)$ is twice differentiable at each $F\in\operatorname{GL}^+(n)$ with simple singular values and Legendre-Hadamard elliptic at each such $F$, then $W$ is already rank-one convex under strongly reduced regularity assumptions. In particular, this generalization makes (local) ellipticity criteria accessible as criteria for (global) rank-one convexity to a wider class of elastic energy potentials expressed in terms of ordered singular values. Our results are also directly applicable to so-called conformally invariant energy functions. We also discuss a classical ellipticity criterion for the planar case by Knowles and Sternberg which has often been used in the literature as a criterion for global rank-one convexity and show that for this purpose, it is still applicable under weakened regularity assumptions.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Sharp rank-one convexity conditions in planar isotropic elasticity for the additive volumetric-isochoric split

We consider the volumetric-isochoric split in planar isotropic hyperelasticity and give a precise analysis of rank-one convexity criteria for this case, showing that the Legendre-Hadamard ellipticity condition separates and simplifies in a suitable sense. Starting from the classical two-dimensional criterion by Knowles and Sternberg, we can reduce the conditions for rank-one convexity to a family of one-dimensional coupled differential inequalities. In particular, this allows us to derive a simple rank-one convexity classification for generalized Hadamard energies of the type $W(F)=\fracμ{2}\frac{\lVert F\rVert^2}{\det F}+f(\det F)$; such an energy is rank-one convex if and only if the function $f$ is convex.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Exploring metamaterials' structures through the relaxed micromorphic model: switching an acoustic screen into an acoustic absorber

While the design of always new metamaterials with exotic static and dynamic properties is attracting deep attention in the last decades, little effort is made to explore their interactions with other materials. This prevents the conception of (meta-)structures that can enhance metamaterials' unorthodox behaviours and that can be employed in real engineering applications. In this paper, we give a first answer to this challenging problem by showing that the relaxed micromorphic model with zero static characteristic length can be usefully applied to describe the refractive properties of simple meta-structures for extended frequency ranges and for any direction of propagation of the incident wave. Thanks to the simplified model's structure, we are able to efficiently explore different configurations and to show that a given meta-structure can drastically change its overall refractive behaviour when varying the elastic properties of specific meta-structural elements. In some cases, changing the stiffness of a homogeneous material which is in contact with a metamaterial's slab, reverses the structure's refractive behaviour by switching it from an acoustic screen (total reflection) into an acoustic absorber (total transmission). The present paper clearly indicates that, while the study and enhancement of the intrinsic metamaterials' properties is certainly of great importance, it is even more challenging to enable the conception of meta-structures that can eventually boost the use of metamaterials in real-case applications.

physics.app-ph↗
arXiv2019

On the dispersion of waves for the linear thermoelastic relaxed micromorphic model

We present the complete set of constitutive relations and field equations for the linear thermoelastic relaxed micromorphic continuum and investigate its variants for wave propagation. It is found that the additional thermal effects give rise to new waves and generate couplings with longitudinal waves which are not existing in the relaxed micromorphic continuum without thermal effects. However, transverse waves go un-affected by the thermal properties. The dispersion curves have been computed numerically for a particular model and comparison is made with the result obtained previously.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Relaxed micromorphic broadband scattering for finite-size meta-structures -- a detailed development

The conception of new metamaterials showing unorthodox behaviors with respect to elastic wavepropagation has become possible in recent years thanks to powerful dynamical homogenization techniques. Such methods effectively allow to describe the behavior of an infinite medium generated by periodically architectured base materials. Nevertheless, when it comes to the study of the scattering properties of finite-sized structures, dealing with the correct boundary conditions at the macroscopicscale becomes challenging. In this paper, we show how finite-domain boundary value problems canbe set-up in the framework of enriched continuum mechanics (relaxed micromorphic model) by imposing continuity of macroscopic displacement and of generalized traction when non-local effects areneglected.The case of a metamaterial slab of finite width is presented, its scattering properties are studied viaa semi-analytical solution of the relaxed micromorphic model and compared to numerical simulationsencoding all details of the selected microstructure. The reflection coefficient obtained via the twomethods is presented as a function of the frequency and of the direction of propagation of the incidentwave. We find excellent agreement for a large range of frequencies going from the long-wave limitto frequencies beyond the first band-gap and for angles of incidence ranging from normal to nearparallel incidence. The case of a semi-infinite metamaterial is also presented and is seen to be areliable measure of the average behavior of the finite metastructure. A tremendous gain in termsof computational time is obtained when using the relaxed micromorphic model for the study of theconsidered metastructure.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2019

Existence results for non-homogeneous boundary conditions in the relaxed micromorphic model

In this paper we use a property of the extension operator from the space of tangential traces of ${\rm H}({\rm curl};Ω)$ in the context of the linear relaxed micromorphic model, a theory which is recently used to describe the behaviour of some metamaterials showing unorthodox behaviors with respect to elastic wave propagation. We show that the new property is important for existence results of strong solution for non-homogeneous boundary condition in both the dynamic and the static case.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Chirality in the plane

It is well-known that many three-dimensional chiral material models become non-chiral when reduced to two dimensions. Chiral properties of the two-dimensional model can then be restored by adding appropriate two-dimensional chiral terms. In this paper we show how to construct a three-dimensional chiral energy function which can achieve two-dimensional chirality induced already by a chiral three-dimensional model. The key ingredient to this approach is the consideration of a nonlinear chiral energy containing only rotational parts. After formulating an appropriate energy functional, we study the equations of motion and find explicit soliton solutions displaying two-dimensional chiral properties.

math-ph↗
arXiv2019

Refined dimensional reduction for isotropic elastic Cosserat shells with initial curvature

Using a geometrically motivated 8-parameter ansatz through the thickness, we reduce a three-dimensional shell-like geometrically nonlinear Cosserat material to a fully two-dimensional shell model. Curvature effects are fully taken into account. For elastic isotropic Cosserat materials, the integration through the thickness can be performed analytically and a generalized plane stress condition allows for a closed-form expression of the thickness stretch and the nonsymmetric shift of the midsurface in bending. We obtain an explicit form of the elastic strain energy density for Cosserat shells, including terms up to order $O(h^5)$ in the shell thickness $h$. This energy density is expressed as a quadratic function of the nonlinear elastic shell strain tensor and the bending-curvature tensor, with coefficients depending on the initial curvature of the shell.

math.AP↗