New estimates of overall properties of heterogeneous solids (Q1970552)

The authors establish a complete formal similarity of standard techniques (self-consistent and Mori-Tanaka averaging methods, and the Walpole's formulation of Hashin-Shtrikman variational bounds) used for estimating overall elastic moduli of multiphase heterogeneous materials. It is shown that the formal similarity can be extended to the evaluation of averaged local strain and stress fields. The authors propose several classes of comparison media that provide new estimates. An example of porous solids is presented.