ON THE GEODESIC PROPERTY OF STRAIN FIELD PATTERNS IN ELASTO-PLASTIC COMPOSITES

摘要

We explore the geodesic (i.e., shortest path) character of strain fields occurring in elasto-plastic response of planar, disordered inclusion-matrix composites. The composites have spatially random morphologies with the matrix being more compliant and weaker than the inlcusions, and perfect bonding everywhere. A quantitative comparison of response pattern obtained by computational micromechanics with that found only by mathematical morphology indicates that (ⅰ) the regions of plastic flow are close (or even very close) to geodesics, and (ⅱ) a purely geometric, and orders of magnitude more rapid than by computational mechanics assessment of these regions is possible.