In this paper we propose a new derivation of the evolution equation of a sharp, coherent interface in a two-phase body having elongated shape, a body which we regard as a one-dimensional micropolar continuum. To this aim, we introduce a system of forces acting at the interface, and we apply the method of virtual powers to derive a balance law involving these forces. By exploiting the dissipation inequality, we manage to write this balance law in terms of a scalar field whose form is reminiscent of a well-known expression for the configurational stress in three dimensional micropolar continua.

What is stress? Who has ever seen stress? Is stress a physical quantity?

Professor Yi-Heng Chen, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710049, P.R.China

e-mail: yhchen2@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

*This issue of the Journal Club has been prepared as a group by Ankush Aggarwal, Mo Bai, Mainak Sarkar, and Jee E Rim, and with comments and suggestions from Bill Klug .

The Solid Mechanics group of the University of Trento (Italy) announces ISDMM09, the fourth international meeting devoted to Mechanics of Material Forces, following the workshops held at Kaiserslautern (2003), Symi (2005) and Aussois (2007), and will be held in the alpine city of Trento, Italy, from July 6th to 9th, 2009.

Abstract submission: January 31, 2009

More info: http://portale.unitn.it/events/isdmm09