Homogenization of elasticity problems on singular structures (Q4804397)

The author considers a problem of homogenization for linear elasticity systems. Consider a periodic singular structure (for instance a net in \({\mathbb R}^N\)) in which a measure \(\mu\), normalized on the period, is supported, then define \(\mu_{\varepsilon}(B) = \varepsilon^N \mu(\varepsilon^{-1}B)\) and, given \(\Omega \subset {\mathbb R}^N\), consider the problem \[ - \text{div }\! A_{\varepsilon}(e(u_{\varepsilon})) + u_{\varepsilon} = f_{\varepsilon} \, , u_{\varepsilon} \in H^1_0(\Omega, d\mu_{\varepsilon}), \tag{P}\(_{\varepsilon}\) \] where \(A_{\varepsilon}(x) = A(\varepsilon^{-1}x)\) with \(A\) periodic and positive definite, \(e(u)\) defined, for \(u \in C^{\infty}\), as \((e(u))_{ij} = {{1}\over{2}}({{\partial u_i}\over{\partial x_j}} + {{\partial u_j}\over{\partial x_i}})\), and \(H^1_0 (\Omega, d\mu_{\varepsilon})\) defined as the union of the functions \(u\) such that \(u\) belongs to the closure in \(L^2(\Omega, d \mu_{\varepsilon})^{N+{{N(N+1)}\over{2}}}\) of the pairs \((u, e(u))\) with \(u \in C^{\infty}({\mathbb R}^N;{\mathbb R}^N)\) (the gradient is not unique). The author first analyzes the homogenization on singular structures observing the following phenomenon: the solution \(u_{\varepsilon}\) of (\(P_{\varepsilon}\)) weakly converges to a function \(T u_0 + (E-T) f\), where \(E\) is the identity operator and \(T\) is a linear non-negative operator, whose expression is given. The function \(u_0\) solves the equation \[ - \operatorname{div} A^{\text{hom}}(e(u_0)) + T u_0 = T f \, . \] If \(T=E\) the limit problem reduces to the classical homogenization. Some examples are given. Then also structures are considered with rods of thickness \(h(\varepsilon)\) going to \(0\) with \(\varepsilon\). The author observes a scaling effect depending on how \(h(\varepsilon) \to 0\): the cases when \(\lim_{\varepsilon \to 0^+} h(\varepsilon) \varepsilon^{-1} = 0\) and \(\lim_{\varepsilon \to 0^+} h(\varepsilon) \varepsilon^{-1} = +\infty\) are analyzed, while the case when \(\lim_{\varepsilon \to 0^+} h(\varepsilon) \varepsilon^{-1} = \theta > 0\) remains open. The author also recalls the two-scale convergence and a generalization of two-scale convergence given by the author in a preceding paper.