Uniformity of stresses inside a hypotrochoidal inhomogeneity (Q2132711)

The paper deals with stress analysis around hypotrochoidal inhomogeneities embedded in an infinite elastic solid. The material properties of the matrix and the inhomogeneity are assumed to be isotropic and homogeneous by parts. In particular, the Poisson ratio and shear modulus are given by piecewise constant functions assuming different values within the matrix and the inhomogeneity. In addition, anti-plane and plane states are considered. The hypotrochoidal elastic inhomogeneity lies inside a hypotrochoidal-shaped Eshelby inclusion undergoing either anti-plane or volumetric in-plane uniform eigenstrains. In this setting, the stresses acting inside the inhomogeneity are shown to be uniform. In addition, explicit formulas for the obtained uniform stresses and related mismatch parameters are derived. Finally, varying examples of hypotrochoidal-shaped inhomogeneities and hypotrochoidal Eshelby inclusions are presented for the reader's convenience. The obtained results are general and useful for practical applications. General because hypotrochoidal forms seem to be the most general shapes in which internal uniform stresses can be achieved. Practical because hypotrochoidal shapes provide good approximation to regular polygonal forms.