A theory of composites modeled as interpenetrating solid continua

Abstract

The differential equations and boundary conditions describing the behavior of a finitely deformable, heat-conducting composite material are derived by means of a systematic application of the laws of continuum mechanics to a well-defined macroscopic model consisting of interpenetrating solid continua. Each continuum represents one identifiable constituent of the N-constituent composite. The influence of viscous dissipation is included in the general treatment. Although the motion of the combined composite continuum may be arbitrarily large, the relative displacement of the individual constituents is required to be infinitesimal in order that the composite not rupture. The linear version of the equations in the absence of heat conduction and viscosity is exhibited in detail for the case of the two-constituent composite. The linear equations are written for both the isotropic and transversely isotropic material symmetries. Plane wave solutions in the isotropic case reveal the existence of high-frequency (optical type) branches as well as the ordinary low-frequency (acoustic type) branches, and all waves are dispersive. For the linear isotropic equations both static and dynamic potential representations are obtained, each of which is shown to be complete. The solutions for both the concentrated ordinary body force and relative body force are obtained from the static potential representation.