Continuum models of materials with beam-microstructure (Q581107)

In biomechanics, the adequate mechanical model of cancellous bones, which consist of beam-microstructures, becomes essential for understanding the cause and development of arthritis. Mechanical behavior of a body consisting of microstructures requires an extended continuum model. The present study shows that the micropolar continuum of the general form is an adequate analytic model of 3-dimensional periodic beam structures belonging to the single-atom type. This continuum differs from the micropolar continua defined by \textit{A. C. Eringen} [J. Math. Mech. 15, 909-923 (1966; Zbl 0145.213)] due to the presence of high order terms in the inertia properties. It is also shown that the stress and couple stress defined in this micropolar continuum model have physical meanings which are related to the microstructure. The low frequency dynamic characteristics of continuum models are investigated by calculating the natural frequencies of free vibrations of bodies of beam-structured materials. The results show that the effect of the high order terms is significant.