Analytical solution of the uniaxial extension problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua (including full derivations)

We derive analytical solutions for the uniaxial extension problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua. These solutions may help in the identification of material parameters of generalized continua which are able to disclose size effects.

Analytical solution of the cylindrical torsion problem for the relaxed micromorphic continuum and other generalized continua (including full derivations)

We solve the St. Venant torsion problem for an infinite cylindrical rod whose behaviour is described by a family of isotropic generalized continua, including the relaxed micromorphic and classical micromorphic model. The results can be used to determine the material parameters of these models. Special attention is given to the possible nonphysical stiffness singularity for a vanishing rod diameter, because slender specimens are, in general, described as stiffer.

A hybrid $$ H ^1\times H (\mathrm {curl})$$ finite element formulation for a relaxed micromorphic continuum model of antiplane shear

One approach for the simulation of metamaterials is to extend an associated continuum theory concerning its kinematic equations, and the relaxed micromorphic continuum represents such a model. It incorporates the Curl of the nonsymmetric microdistortion in the free energy function. This suggests the existence of solutions not belonging to $$ H ^1$$ H 1 , such that standard nodal $$ H ^1$$ H 1 -finite elements yield unsatisfactory convergence rates and might be incapable of finding the exact solution. Our approach is to use base functions stemming from both Hilbert spaces $$ H ^1$$ H 1 and $$ H (\mathrm {curl})$$ H ( curl ) , demonstrating the central role of such combinations for this class of problems. For simplicity, a reduced two-dimensional relaxed micromorphic continuum describing antiplane shear is introduced, preserving the main computational traits of the three-dimensional version. This model is then used for the formulation and a multi step investigation of a viable finite element solution, encompassing examinations of existence and uniqueness of both standard and mixed formulations and their respective convergence rates.