The gap between linear elasticity and the variational limit of finite elasticity in pure traction problems (Q2326455)

The authors consider a bounded open set \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N\), \(\ N=2,\,3\), as the reference configuration of a hyperelastic material body. The stored energy due to a deformation \(\mathbf{y}\) is expressed in a form \(\int_\Omega \mathcal{W}(\mathbf{x},\nabla\mathbf{y})\,\mathrm{d}\mathbf{x}\), where \(\mathcal{W}:\Omega \times \mathcal{M}^{N\times N}\to [0,+\infty]\) and \(\mathcal{W}(\mathbf{x},\mathbf{F})<+\infty\) if and only if \(\det \mathbf{F}>0.\) The limit energy is different from the classical energy of linear elasticity. An additional compatibility condition implies the coincidence of related minima and minimizers. A rigorous validation of linear elasticity then fails for compressive force fields that do not satisfy such a compatibility condition.