Continuum mechanics

About: Continuum mechanics is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5042 publications have been published within this topic receiving 181027 citations.

Predicting failure of the continuum fluid equations in transitional hypersonic flows

Abstract: The manner in which the Navier–Stokes equations of fluid mechanics break down under conditions of low‐density, hypersonic flow is investigated numerically. This is performed through careful and detailed comparisons of solutions obtained with continuum and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The objective of the study is to predict conditions under which the continuum approach may be expected to fail. Both normal shock waves and bow shocks formed by flow over a sphere are considered for argon and nitrogen. It is found that a Knudsen number based on local flow conditions and gradients is a convenient and accurate criterion for indicating breakdown of the continuum flow equations. Failure of the Navier–Stokes equations in hypersonic transitional flows occurs both in the shock front and in the region immediately adjacent to the body surface.

Experimental methods for study of cosserat elastic solids and other generalized elastic continua

Abstract: The behavior of solids can be represented by a variety of continuum theories. For example, Cosserat elasticity allows the points in the continuum to rotate as well as translate, and the continuum supports couple per unit area as well as force per unit area. We examine experimental methods for determining the six Cosserat elastic constants of an isotropic elastic solid, or the six Cosserat relaxation functions of a Cosserat viscoelastic solid. We also consider other generalized continuum theories (including micromorphic elasticity, Cowin's void theory, and nonlocal elasticity). Ways of experimentall y discriminating among various generalized continuum representations are presented. The applicability of Cosserat elasticity to cellular solids and fibrous composite materials is considered as is the application of related generalized continuum theories. I Introduction The classical theory of elasticity is presently used in engineering analyses of deformable objects at small strain. However there are other continuum theories for linear isotropic materials. Some have more freedom, and some have less freedom than classical elasticity. The various continuum theories are all mathematically self consistent. Therefore a discrimination among them is to be made by experiment. It is the purpose of this article to explore the physical consequences of various continuum theories, and how these consequences may be used in the design of experiments to discriminate among the theories. The constitutive equations for several theories are presented, and some of the salient consequences of each theory are stated and discussed. Some of the causal physical mechanisms associated with each theory are briefly discussed. Experimental methods for evaluating materials as generalized continua are presented, with emphasis on Cosserat elasticity. The treatment is restricted to linearly elastic behavior; study of Cosserat plasticity and related issues is presented elsewhere in this volume. A discussion of experimental aspects of generalized continua is considered particularly appropriate in view of the fact that most of the work done thus far in generalized continuum mechanics has been theoretical.

Thermodynamically Consistent, Frame Indifferent Diffuse Interface Models for Incompressible Two-Phase Flows with Different Densities

Abstract: A new diffuse interface model for a two-phase flow of two incompressible fluids with different densities is introduced using methods from rational continuum mechanics. The model fulfills local and global dissipation inequalities and is frame indifferent. Moreover, it is generalized to situations with a soluble species. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions we derive various sharp interface models in the limit when the interfacial thickness tends to zero. Depending on the scaling of the mobility in the diffusion equation we either derive classical sharp interface models or models where bulk or surface diffusion is possible in the limit. In the latter case a new term resulting from surface diffusion appears in the momentum balance at the interface. Finally, we show that all sharp interface models fulfill natural energy inequalities.