Large Deformation Failure Mechanisms in Nonlinear Solids

摘要

This work was concerned with research on fundamental mechanics and mathematics oflarge deformation induced failures in nonlinear solids. The specific area investigated was that of void nucleation and growth due to large deformations in nonlinear solids. Research on cavitation phenomena, which serve as a precursor to fracture, is crucial to the understanding of failure mechanisms in rubber-like solids (e.g. polymers, solid rocket propellants) and of ductile fracture processes in metals. Mathematically, the work involves investigation of singular solutions of the second-order quasilinear system of partial differential equations describing equilibrium states of nonlinearly elastic bodies. For radially symmetric deformations, the basic problem reduces to a bifurcation problem for a single second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Particular emphasis was placed on the effect of material inhomogeneity, compressibility and anisotropy on void nucleation and growth. (MM).