Bounds on non-local effective relations for random composites loaded by configuration-dependent body force (Q1577366)

Using the minimum energy principle, the authors consider an infinite domain occupied by random composite material. The main contribution of the paper is the recognition of a distinctive effect of configuration-dependent body force. The basic problem is to determine the effective response of the body. The equation of equilibrium is interpreted in the weak sense, and different phases are supposed to be bounded, so that traction and displacement are continuous across material interfaces. The microgeometry of the composite is taken to be random. Besides the usual modulus operator, the authors also introduce two constitutive operators defining the mean response of the body. The former operator provides a contribution to the mean stress from the fluctuating part of density, the latter operator accounts for non-zero contribution of mean energy from the interaction of the fluctuating part of stress field with itself. Approximations of Hashin-Shtrikman type are developed explicitly, and the associated bounds on effective properties are displayed.