arXiv subjects

Riccardo Scala

Publications and source records attributed to Riccardo Scala.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Uniform distribution of dislocations in Peierls-Nabarro models for semi-coherent interfaces

In this paper we introduce Peierls-Nabarro type models for edge dislocations at semi-coherent interfaces between two heterogeneous crystals, and prove the optimality of uniformly distributed edge dislocations. Specifically, we show that the elastic energy $Γ$-converges to a limit functional comprised of two contributions: one is given by a constant $c_\infty>0$ gauging the minimal energy induced by dislocations at the interface, and corresponding to a uniform distribution of edge dislocations; the other one accounts for the far field elastic energy induced by the presence of further, possibly not uniformly distributed, dislocations. After assuming periodic boundary conditions and formally considering the limit from semi-coherent to coherent interfaces, we show that $c_\infty$ is reached when dislocations are evenly-spaced on the one dimensional circle.

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arXiv2020

Nonlinear three-dimensional derivation of line tension for dislocations: quadratic growth

In this paper we derive a line tension model for dislocations in 3d starting from a geometrically nonlinear elastic energy with quadratic growth. In the asymptotic analysis, as the amplitude of the Burgers vectors (proportional to the lattice spacing) tends to zero, we show that the elastic energy linearises and the line tension energy density, up to an overall constant rotation, is identified by the linearised cell problem formula given in [17].

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arXiv2019

On the relaxed area of the graph of discontinuous maps from the plane to the plane taking three values with no symmetry assumptions

In this paper we estimate from above the area of the graph of a singular map $u$ taking a disk to three vectors, the vertices of a triangle, and jumping along three $\mathcal{C}^2-$ embedded curves that meet transversely at only one point of the disk. We show that the relaxed area can be estimated from above by the solution of a Plateau-type problem involving three entangled nonparametric area-minimizing surfaces. The idea is to "fill the hole" in the graph of the singular map with a sequence of approximating smooth two-codimensional surfaces of graph-type, by imagining three minimal surfaces, placed vertically over the jump of $u$, coupled together via a triple point in the target triangle. Such a construction depends on the choice of a target triple point, and on a connection passing through it, which dictate the boundary condition for the three minimal surfaces. We show that the singular part of the relaxed area of $u$ cannot be larger than what we obtain by minimizing over all possible target triple points and all corresponding connections.

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arXiv2018

Confinement of dislocations inside a crystal with a prescribed external strain

A system of $n$ screw dislocations in an isotropic crystal undergoing antiplane shear is studied in the framework of linear elasticity. Imposing a suitable boundary condition for the strain, namely requesting the non-vanishing of its boundary integral, results in a confinement effect. More precisely, in the presence of an external strain with circulation equal to n times the lattice spacing, it is energetically convenient to have n distinct dislocations lying inside the crystal. The result is obtained by formulating the problem via the core radius approach and by studying the asymptotics as the core size vanishes. An iterative scheme is devised to prove the main result. This work sets the basis for studying the upscaling problem, i.e., the limit as $n\to\infty$, which is treated in [17].

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arXiv2018

Upscaling of screw dislocations with increasing tangential strain

The upscaling of a system of screw dislocations in a material subject to an external strain is studied. The $Γ$-limit of a suitable rescaling of the renormalized energy is characterized in the space of probability measures. This corresponds to a discrete-to-continuum limit of the dislocations, which, as a byproduct, provides information on their distribution when the circulation of the tangential component of the external strain becomes larger and larger. In particular, dislocations are shown to concentrate at the boundary of the material and to distribute as the limiting external strain.

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arXiv2018

Existence and regularity of solutions for an evolution model of perfectly plastic plates

We continue the study of a dynamic evolution model for perfectly plastic plates, recently derived from three-dimensional Prandtl-Reuss plasticity. We extend the previous existence result by introducing non-zero external forces in the model, and we discuss the regularity of the solutions thus obtained. In particular, we show that the first derivatives with respect to space of the stress tensor are locally square integrable.

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arXiv2016

On the viscous Cahn-Hilliard equation with singular potential and inertial term

We consider a relaxation of the viscous Cahn-Hilliard equation induced by the second-order inertial term~$u_{tt}$. The equation also contains a semilinear term $f(u)$ of "singular" type. Namely, the function $f$ is defined only on a bounded interval of ${\mathbb R}$ corresponding to the physically admissible values of the unknown $u$, and diverges as $u$ approaches the extrema of that interval. In view of its interaction with the inertial term $u_{tt}$, the term $f(u)$ is difficult to be treated mathematically. Based on an approach originally devised for the strongly damped wave equation, we propose a suitable concept of weak solution based on duality methods and prove an existence result.

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arXiv2015

A contact problem for viscoelastic bodies with inertial effects and unilateral boundary constraints

We consider a viscoelastic body occupying a smooth bounded domain of $R^3$ under the effects of volumic traction forces. Inertial effects are considered: hence, the equation describing the evolution of displacements is of the second order in time. On a part of the boundary of the domain, the body is anchored to a support and no displacement may occur; on a second part, the body can move freely; on a third portion of the boundary, the body is in adhesive contact with a solid support. The boundary forces acting there as a byproduct of elastic stresses are responsible for delamination, i.e., progressive failure of adhesive bonds. This phenomenon is mathematically represented by a boundary variable that represents the local fraction of active bonds and is assumed to satisfy a doubly nonlinear ODE. Following the lines of a new approach based on duality methods in Sobolev-Bochner spaces, we define a suitable concept of weak solution to the resulting system of equations. Correspondingly, we prove an existence result on finite time intervals of arbitrary length.

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arXiv2015

On the strongly damped wave equation with constraint

A weak formulation for the so-called "semilinear strongly damped wave equation with constraint" is introduced and a corresponding notion of solution is defined. The main idea in this approach consists in the use of duality techniques in Sobolev-Bochner spaces, aimed at providing a suitable "relaxation" of the constraint term. A global in time existence result is proved under the natural condition that the initial data have finite "physical" energy.

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