Path independent integrals in equilibrium electro-chemo-elasticity

Abstract

By using the Noether's first theorem, this paper constructed two types of path-independent integrals in equilibrium electro-chemo-elasticity and proved their uniqueness. These path-independent integrals are the electro-chemo-elastic extensions of the classical J- and l-integrals in elasticity. Similar to their elastic counterparts, the electro-chemo-elastic J- and l-integrals represent energy release when a crack or a cavity undergoes a translation and rotation, respectively. Also shown in this paper is that the M-integral in elasticity cannot be extended to electro-chemo-elasticity. Results of this study established a theoretical foundation for energy conservation laws in equilibrium electro-chemo-elasticity. Such conservation laws are useful in modeling various phenomena in electro-chemo-elastic systems. In addition, the path-independent integrals obtained here provide a theoretical tool for understanding and a practical tool for numerical evaluation of singular fields.