SELECTED TOPICS IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS

FINAL EXAM - 25 JANVIER 2012

EXERCISE - 1
The stress components in a thin plate bounded by x1 = ±L and x2 = ±h
are given by
πx1
σ11 = W m2 cos( ) sinh(mx2 )
2L
1 πx1
σ22 = − 2 W π 2 cos( ) sinh(mx2 )
4L 2L
1 πx1
σ12 = W mπ sin( ) cosh(mx2 )
2L 2L
σ13 = σ23 = σ33 = 0
where W and m are constants.
(a1 ) Verify that this stress satisfies the equation of equilibrium with no
body forces.
(a2 ) Find the tractions vectors on the edges x2 = h and x1 = −L.
(a3 ) Find the principal stress components and the principal axes of stress
at the point (0, h, 0) and at (L, 0, 0)

EXERCISE - 1
A continuum body is loaded by prescribed tractions and subjected to
a rigid body rotation. The material of the body is well described by an
incompressible Neo-Hookean model with shear modulus µ, i.e. the strain
energy is written: W = (µ/2)(I1 − 3), where I1 = Tr(B). At a certain
stage in the loading, the body obtains a cubic shape ( a x a x a ) in the
current configuration, as shown in the figure 1. The resultants of the Cauchy
traction vectors acting on each surface (surfaces with normal in the x3-
direction are traction free), the right stretch tensor, U, and the rotation
tensor, R, associated with the deformation at this stage are also included in
the figure.
(a1 ) Determine the shape and the position of body in the reference con-
figuration ; Sketch the initial shape of the body.
(a2 ) Express the Cauchy stress tensor in the basis (e0 1 , e0 2 , e0 3 ) and then
calculate the Cauchy stress tensor in the basis (e1 , e2 , e3 )
(a3 ) Calculate the 2nd and the 1st Piola Kirchhoff stress tensors, respec-
tively in the basis (e1 , e2 , e3 ).
1
2 FINAL EXAM - 25 JANVIER 2012

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Figure 1

(a4 ) Calculate the 1st Piola-Kirchhoff traction vectors acting on the body
in the reference configuration.

EXERCISE - 2
A block of rubber has a rectangular cross-section of dimensions L and H
in its undeformed configuration. The block is reinforced by two sets of
uniformly spaced straight fibers oriented perpendicular to the X3 -axis. The
two families of fibers subtend an angle 2α to each other, and their bisectrix
is aligned with X1 -axis, see the figure.

Figure 2. Composite = Rubber + fibers

The fibers are strongly bonded to the matrix and follow its deformation.
Since the fibers, of metallic materials, are much stiffer than the rubber
matrix, they are taken to be inextensible to a first approximation. The
block is subjected to uniaxial tension in the direction of the X1 -axis, which
causes a stretch λ in the same direction. Due to symmetry, the deformed
shape of the cross section will still remain rectangular. Thus we have,
x1 = λX1 , x2 = λ2 X2 , x3 = λ3 X3 .
 SELECTED TOPICS IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS 3

The rubber material can be modelled as an isotropic compressible Neo-

Hookean material with a strain energy function on the form
W = 2c1 (J −1 − 1) + c1 (I1 − 3),
with c1 being a material parameter, I1 = Tr(B) and J = det(F).
(a1 ) By use of the constraint associated by the inextensible fibers, deter-
mine the resulting stretch λ2 in the direction of X2 with respect to
λ and α
(a2 ) We define a nonlinear Poisson’s ratio by the relation ν = −E22 /E11 ,
where E11 and E22 are components of the Lagrangian strain tensor.
Compute ν as a function of α, and find the numerical value of α that
gives ν = 1/2.
(a3 ) By use of the condition for zero normal stress in the direction of the
X3 -axis, find the relation between the stretch λ3 in that direction
and λ. Remark :
a 
Π=2 JC−1 + bI
2
where a = ∂W/∂J and b = ∂W/∂I1 .

EXERCISE - 3
A constitutive relation for foam rubber is postulated as
3/2
σ = I3 [(ψ(I3 ) − βI2 )I + (αI3 + βI1 )B − βB2 ]
where I is the identity tensor, B the left Cauchy-Green tensor with principal
invariants I1 = Tr(B), I2 = (1/2)(I12 − Tr(B2 )), I3 = J = det(F), α and
β are material constants and ψ(I3 ) is an unknown function of the third
principal invariant.
A cylindrical piece of the foam rubber is put under a uniform normal trac-
tion force F1 as shown on the figure 1. Note e3 gives the axis of the cylinder
and, (e1 , e2 ) define the cross section of the cylinder which is arbitrary. The
unit normal on the curved surface of the cylinder is: n = n1 e1 + n2 e2 .

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e2

e e3 e1
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e α
a
Figure 3

The principal stretches of the cylinder under the normal traction F1 are
λ3 , λ and λ, where λ3 is aligned with the axis of the cylinder.
4 FINAL EXAM - 25 JANVIER 2012

(a1 ) Calculate F and B.

(a2 ) Calculate the principal invariant I1 , I2 and I3 .
(a3 ) Calculate the Cauchy stress tensor.
(a4 ) Noting that the surface of the cylinder with normal n is traction
free, derived an expression (parametrized by α and β) relating ψ, λ3
and λ.
(a5 ) Suppose a log-log plot of λ versus λ3 is a line with slope −ν, where ν
is a positive constant. Use this information together with the result
from the previous question to find the functionnal form of ψ(I3 ) in
terms of α, β and ν.
(a6 ) Calculate the axial traction F1 as a function of λ3 , parametrized by
α, β and ν.
(a7 ) Suppose ν = 1/2. Discuss the implications of this choice on the
above results.