New S-Type Bounds of M-Eigenvalues for Elasticity Tensors with Applications

In this paper, based on the extreme eigenvalues of the matrices arisen from the given elasticity tensor, S-type upper bounds for the M-eigenvalues of elasticity tensors are established. Finally, S-type sufficient conditions are introduced for the strong ellipticity of elasticity tensors based on the S-type M-eigenvalue inclusion sets.

Sharp bounds on the minimum $M$-eigenvalue and strong ellipticity condition of elasticity $Z$-tensors-tensors

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>In this paper, we establish sharp upper and lower bounds on the minimum <i>M</i>-eigenvalue via the extreme eigenvalue of the symmetric matrices extracted from elasticity <i>Z</i>-tensors without irreducible conditions. Based on the lower bound estimations for the minimum <i>M</i>-eigenvalue, we provide some checkable sufficient or necessary conditions for the strong ellipticity condition. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the proposed results.</p>

On Incompressibility Constraint and Crack Direction in Soft Solids

Most soft materials resist volumetric changes much more than shape distortions. This experimental observation led to the introduction of the incompressibility constraint in the constitutive description of soft materials. The incompressibility constraint provides analytical solutions for problems which, otherwise, could be solved numerically only. However, in the present work, we show that the enforcement of the incompressibility constraint in the analysis of the failure of soft materials can lead to somewhat nonphysical results. We use hyperelasticity with energy limiters to describe the material failure, which starts via the violation of the condition of strong ellipticity. This mathematical condition physically means inability of the material to propagate superimposed waves because cracks nucleate perpendicular to the direction of a possible wave propagation. By enforcing the incompressibility constraint, we sort out longitudinal waves, and consequently, we can miss cracks perpendicular to longitudinal waves. In the present work, we show that such scenario, indeed, occurs in the problems of uniaxial tension and pure shear of natural rubber. We also find that the suppression of longitudinal waves via the incompressibility constraint does not affect the consideration of the material failure in equibiaxial tension and the practically relevant problem of the failure of rubber bearings under combined shear and compression.