Radially symmetric cavitation for hyperelastic materials (Q1073593)

This paper considers the question of existence of a class of singular radial solutions to the equilibrium equations of nonlinear elasticity. The solutions form a spherical hole in a ball of isotropic material, induced by pulling the ball radially outwards (displacement or traction boundary conditions). Variational methods previously used by \textit{J. Ball} [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., A 306, 557-611 (1982; Zbl 0513.73020)] to study the same problem are here replaced by the shooting method, which is simpler. As a result there is some generalization in the form of the constitutive assumptions which describe the material making up the ball. This comes at a cost of losing information concerning stability within the class of radial solutions. The general problem of stability still appears open.