scientific article; zbMATH DE number 193217

Authors Dominic G. B. Edelen, Dimitris C. Lagoudas

Publication date 5 June 1993

anti-exact exterior differential forms anti-exact gauge balances of linear momentum Burgers and Frank vectors Cartan equations of structure charge complete integrability of distortion completely integrable covariant under the action of the fundamental gauge group disclinations dislocations dynamically complete field quantities gauge theory for matrix Lie groups harmonic-wave dispersion behavior kinematic equations of defect dynamics kinematics of defects kinetics of elastic dielectrics with defects Kröner's gauge and internal observers linear homotopy operators local action of the gauge group material symmetry mechanical and electro-magnetic observables Noether theorem nonlinear vectorial version of the Proca type equation nonrelativistic framework nontrivial system of Abelian gauge transformations observable quantities one-forms orbits of a gauge group rational procedures of approximation scaling solutions of the linearized version of the field equations static and dynamic problems unified four-dimensional space-time background Yang-Mills minimal coupling construct Yang-Mills minimal replacement construct

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of global differential geometry to the sciences (53C80) Exterior differential systems (Cartan theory) (58A15) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to mechanics of deformable solids (74-02) Micromechanical theories (74A60) Generalities, axiomatics, foundations of continuum mechanics of solids (74A99) Generalities, axiomatics, foundations of continuum mechanics of solids (74Axx) Micromechanics of solids (74M25) Statistical mechanics of crystals (82D25)

Review text

The nine chapters of this book take us into the world of exterior calculus and intrinsic differential geometry with applications to the gauge theory of fields and defective deformable bodies in a nonrelativistic framework. However, a unified four-dimensional space-time background is adopted all along. Obviously, many mechanical engineers and material scientists will meet some difficulty to recognize their daily bread, such as dislocations, elastic dielectrics, and crystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous materials, in the disguise of Cartan's theory of forms. But this is a first-hand treatment by some of those who have directly contributed to the most recent developments in the field. Material from the second author's recent Ph. D. Thesis has been included in the presentation. If it were to be qualified in the usual tradition, the book should be declared as ahead of its time rather than lagging behind. For the mathematically oriented reader versed in exterior calculus this is a pleasant reading. In its nine chapters the authors evolve from strict mathematical definitions (a remainder on exterior calculus and differential forms) to dislocation dynamics. Indeed, Chapter one intends to introduce the reader to the mathematical formalism. Of special interest here are the role played by anti-exact exterior differential forms, the introduction to linear homotopy operators, and the celebrated Noether theorem since all subsequent developments are based on variational formulations. Elasticity is cast in the language of exterior calculus and its fundamental group (that of rigid-body rotations and translations) is emphasized. Chapter two provides the basic ingredient for gauge theories, namely, the Yang-Mills minimal replacement construct. This is presented within the gauge theory for matrix Lie groups. The notions of orbits of a gauge group and that of anti-exact gauge (different from the well-known Lorentz and Coulomb gauges) are introduced. Chapter three is the central point of the book. In effect, the kinematics of defects is introduced following the point of view of \textit{E. Kossecka} and \textit{R. de Wit} [e.g. Arch. Mech. 29, 633-651 (1977; Zbl 0375.73094)]. Then, using a four-dimensional formulation, the basic result of A. Golebiewska-Lasota is presented: the kinematic equations of defect dynamics admit a nontrivial system of Abelian gauge transformations. Finally, the main result is that these kinematic equations can be mapped into the Cartan equations of structure (a complete exterior differential system). The classical dislocation theory is recalled at the end of this chapter. Obviously, all this shows that the state of a defective body is characterized by many more degrees of freedom than just the three mapping functions required in an elastic body. Chapter four looks in greater detail at the local action of the fundamental group of elasticity. In the process the conditions for complete integrability of distortion one-forms are established (reduction to elasticity). Chapter five bases on the second author's Ph. D. Thesis. It presents the appropriate generalization of the Yang-Mills minimal coupling construct for the kinetics of elastic dielectrics with defects. The system obtained turns out to be completely integrable, dynamically complete, and covariant under the action of the fundamental gauge group. These equations consist of the balances of linear momentum, charge, dislocations and disclinations. Gauge conditions, observables and internal space are the subject of Chapter six. The main notions there are those of transformations induced by the local action of the gauge group, Kröner's gauge and internal observers [see \textit{E. Kröner}, Lect. Notes Phys. 249, 281-294 (1986; Zbl 0613.73112)], the introduction of mechanical and electro-magnetic observables, and a return to more classical notions such as those of Burgers and Frank vectors. These considerations are necessary because in the presented theory there are two sets of objects: field quantities that satisfy the field equations of defect dynamics, and observable quantities with which we usually deal in Newtonian mechanics. Furthermore, up to this point, boundaries have not been involved. It is the purpose of Chapter seven to deal in detail with boundary conditions. Following Kibble, the authors are led to introducing effective stresses and linear momenta as the agencies that drive the dislocation field, and effective couple stresses and angular momenta as those that drive the disclination field. This is an achievement of gauge theory. Chapter eight essentially discusses the question of material symmetry. While the disentaglement of the symmetries of the motion (these are the actions of the fundamental group) from material symmetries is one of the major accomplishment of modern continuum mechanics, the gauge theory of defects come about by breaking the homogeneity of the action of the fundamental group so that it becomes a local group of symmetries while material properties are still characterized by the global material symmetry group of space transformations in the reference configuration. This, obviously, has fundamental consequences in writing down a specific Lagrangian for the material. Explicit evaluations of the field equations follow. In particular, a nonlinear vectorial version of the Proca type equation (Klein-Gordon plus nonlinear terms) can be deduced for dislocation dynamics. The final chapter (Chapter nine) is somewhat less abstract than the rest of the book in the sense that it develops rational procedures of approximation and it exemplifies solutions of the linearized version of the field equations for both static and dynamic problems, thus bringing the reader back to a more traditional view of dislocation theory. Of particular interest are scaling considerations and the harmonic-wave dispersion behavior. The book is completed by an ample list of references. All in all, the book is very well written and, apart from the many equations, contains thought provoking discussions and comments. Through their lively style the authors succeed in conveying their enthusiasm for a subject matter which, no need to say, is not an easy one. The new North-Holland series on the ``Mechanics and physics of discrete systems, coordinated by G. C. Sih, makes an excellent start with such a volume. We can only hope that the next volumes will reach the same standard of quality.

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