Generalized continuum modeling of 2-D periodic cellular solids

Abstract

A generalized continuum representation of two-dimensional periodic cellular solids is obtained by treating these materials as micropolar continua. Linear elastic micropolar constants are obtained using an energy approach for square, equilateral triangular, mixed triangle and diamond cell topologies. The constants are obtained by equating two different continuous approximations of the strain energy function. Furthermore, the effects of shear deformation of the cell walls on the micropolar elastic constants are also discussed. A continuum micropolar finite element approach is developed for numerical simulations of the cell structures. The solutions from the continuum representation are compared with the “exact” discrete simulations of these cell structures for a model problem of elastic indentation of a rectangular domain by a point force. The utility of the micropolar continuum representation is illustrated by comparing various cell structures with respect to the stress concentration factor at the root of a circular notch.