English

Continuum mesoscale theory inspired by plasticity

Condensed Matter 2009-09-29 v3

Abstract

We present a simple mesoscale field theory inspired by rate-independent plasticity that reflects the symmetry of the deformation process. We parameterize the plastic deformation by a scalar field which evolves with loading. The evolution equation for that field has the form of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation which gives rise to cusp-singularity formation. These cusps introduce irreversibilities analogous to those seen in plastic deformation of real materials: we observe a yield stress, work hardening, reversibility under unloading, and cell boundary formation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0203397,
  title  = {Continuum mesoscale theory inspired by plasticity},
  author = {J. P. Sethna and M. Rauscher and J. -P. Bouchaud},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0203397},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

7 pages, 5 .eps figures. submitted to Europhysics Letters