Heterogeneous materials. I: Linear transport and optical properties (Q1394751)

This work represents the first part of an impressive two-volume book that describes various theoretical and computational approaches related to effective macroscopic properties of heterogeneous materials. The author considers the characterization and the modeling of morphology of disordered materials, and describes theoretical and numerical approaches to predict the linear transport and optical properties of such media. A main goal is to compare two fundamental directions used to study the heterogeneous materials properties, namely the continuum mechanics approach and the discrete model approach. After the first part devoted to the modeling of morphology of heterogeneous materials, the author analyzes linear transport and optical properties of heterogeneous materials, following continuum, respectively discrete approach. Using these techniques, the author obtains the effective conductivity, dielectric constant, and derives the linear elastic behaviour of disordered materials via rigidity and elastic moduli. These results allow to describe complex phenomena, such as diffusion in heterogeneous materials, hopping conductivity, optical properties, vibrational density of states, dispersion of spherical inclusions, rigidity percolation, elastic percolation networks, branched polymers and gel behaviour. This multidisciplinary book is recommended to materials scientists, chemical and mechanical engineers, and applied physicists and mathematicians.