Several different potential techniques have been developed in order to solve problems

within both elasticity displacement and stress formulations.

Methods related to the displacement formulation include scalar and vector potentials
from the Helmholtz decomposition, Galerkin vector, Papkovich-Neuber functions and
Naghdi-Hsu solution. These schemes provide general solution forms for Navier’s
equations.

Potentials used in the stress formulation are those related to Maxwell and Morera
stress functions leading to Airy and other common forms. These stress functions
normally satisfy equilibrium equations identically and when combined with
compatibility relations yield a simpler and more tractable system of equations.

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Helmholtz Displacement Vector Representation
Any sufficiently continuous vector field can be represented as sum of
gradient of a scalar potential plus curl of a vector potential
u      φ ,   φ  0
Applying to elasticity displacement vector
dilatation and rotation expressions become 
1
  ekk  ,kk , i   i ,kk
2
Using in Navier's equation 
(  2)( 2 )    ( 2φ)  F  0
taking divergence and curl with no body forces 
 2 2    4   0,  2 2φ   4φ  0
Thus both potential functions are biharmonic

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Lamé’s Strain Potential
With no body forces, special solutions of previous biharmonic
equations occur with  2   constant ,  2φ  constant

So consider the special case:  2   0, φ  0

For this case the elasticity relations reduce to
1
2ui  ,i , eij  ,ij , ij  ,ij
2
1  1  1 
u ,v  ,w 
2 x 2 y 2 z
1  2 1  2
ex  , ey  ,
2 x 2 2 y 2
 2  2  2
 x  2 ,  y  2 ,  xy 
x y xy

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Galerkin Vector Representation
2  u  2(1  ) 2V   V , V is called Galerkin vector
Substituting this form into Navier's equaiton 
F
 4V   ( 0 for zero body force case)
1 
Navier's eqn. reduced into much simpler result
Stresses given by 
 2  2    2  2  2
 x  2(1  )  Vx     2   V ,  xy  (1  )   Vx   Vy  
2
 V
x  x   y x  xy
 2  2   2  2  2
 y  2(1  )  Vy     2   V ,  yz  (1  )   Vy   Vz  
2
 V
y  y   z y  yz
 2   2
      2
 z  2(1  )  Vz    2  2   V ,  zx  (1  )   2Vz   2Vz    V
z  z   x z  zx

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Love Strain Potential
Consider special Galerkin vector where only z-component of V is non-vanishing; i.e.
V = Vz k. Vz is called Love Strain Potential. For this case, displacements are given by

 V 
2u  2(1  )  2Vz e z    z 
 z 
For zero body forces,  4Vz  0
 2Vz  2Vz  2Vz
2u   , 2v   , 2w  2(1  ) Vz  2
2

xz yz z
Stresses and displacements are given by
  2   3Vz
 x     2  Vz ,  xy  
2

z  x  xyz
  2    2 
 y     2  Vz ,  yz   (1  )  2  Vz
2 2

z  y  x  z 
 2    2 
 z   (2  )  2  Vz ,  zx   (1  )  2  Vz
2 2

z  z  y  z 

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Some Harmonic and Biharmonic Functions

Harmonic 2( ) = 0
1
x  y , xy , r cos n , log r , , log( R  z )
2 2 n

R
y
with r  x 2  y 2 ,   tan 1 , R  x 2  y 2  z 2
x

Biharmonic 4( ) = 0
1
g  f o  xf1  yf 2  zf3  R 2 f 4
2
where fi are arbitrary harmonic functions

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Example 13.1 Kelvin’s Problem: Concentrated Force
Acting in Interior of an Infinite Solid
Choose axisymmetric biharmonic Love/Galerkin potential Vz (r , z )  AR  A r 2  z 2 
Arz  2(1  2 ) 1 z 2 
2ur  3 , 2u  0 , 2u z  A    3 z
R  R R R 
 2(1  2 ) z 3r 2 z  (1  2 ) z P
r  A  3
 5 
,    A 3
, r  z  0
 R R  R
 (1  2 ) z 3z 3   (1  2 )r 3rz 2  x
y
z   A  3
 5  ,  zr   A  3
 5 
 R R   R R 
Stresses/displacements are singular at the origin and vanish at infinity

z
Resultant force condition: invoke vertical equilibrium on cylinder bounded
by z   a enclosing origin with r  
P
  a
 0
2r z (r , a)dr   2r z (r ,  a)dr   2r rz (r , z )dz  P  0 
0 a

P  8(1  ) A  A  P / [8(1  )] y

x
Resultant boundary
condition evaluation

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Papkovich-Neuber Representation
Scheme uses scalar and vector potential functions
to develop a general solution to Navier’s equations
General Navier's Equation
1 F
2 u    u  
(1  2 ) 
Papkovich-Neuber Solution Form
Using vector potential A and scalar potential B
 A R  RF
2u  A    B  ,  2
A  2 F ,  2
B 
 4(1  )  (1  )
With no body forces both potentials are harmonic
Four individual functions Ax , Ay , Az and B are not all
independent. For arbitrary three-dimensional convex regions
only three of these functions are independent
For axisymmetric problems, general form ( F  0)reduces to
Ar  A  0 , Az  Az (r , z ) , B  B(r , z )
with  2 B  0 and  2 Az  0
B and Az are commonly called the Boussinesq’s Potentials

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Naghdi-Hsu Solution
The three-dimensional Papkovich solution contains four functions to determine
three displacement components. To eliminate this troubling disparity, Naghdi
and Hsu (1961) established a general displacement solution representation in
terms of just three potential functions
 A R 
Papkovich form with zero body forces: 2u  A    B   , 2 A  2 B  0
 4(1  ) 
From Potential Theory, the solution of  2 f ( x, y , z )  g ( x, y , z ) is given by
1 g (, ,  )
f    d d d  , where R  ( x  ) 2  ( y  ) 2  ( z   ) 2
4 V R
1  A
Combining this solution with the identity  2 ( Α  R )  2  A  A  R    d d d 
2 V R
In terms of Papkovich Potentials define new potential E  A  B    E    A ,  2 E  0
1 E
Combining with Papkovich form  2u  E    d d d 
8(1   ) V R
 General displacement solution in terms of three components of vector potential E

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Example 13.4 Boussinesq’s Problem: Concentrated Force
Acting Normal to Free Surface of a Semi- Infinite Solid
Axisymmetric Problem (r , z ) with no body forces 
P
Use Papkovich Potentials which must be harmonic in r and z
C x
Try Az  1 , B  C2 log( R  z )
R
Stresses follow from fundamental displacement forms
y
3C1 z3
r  (1  2 ) 2
3C1 z  z
z   ,  rz  C
 2  C1  
4(1  ) R 5 R3  4(1  ) 4(1  ) R 2 
Stresses/displacements singular at origin and vanish at infinity

Boundary conditions  z (r , 0)  rz (r , 0)  0 ; force balance any z  plane: P     z (r , z )2rdr 
0

P  rz (1  2)r  P  z2 
ur     , u  0 , u z   2(1  )  2 
4R  R 2
Rz  4R  R 
P  3r 2 z (1  2) R  (1  2) P  z R  3Pz 3 3P rz 2
r    R 3  R  z  ,   2R 2  R  R  z  ,  z   2R 5 , rz   2R 5
2R 2    

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Summary Displacement Potential Solutions
(Zero Body Force Case)

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Spherical Coordinate Solution Formulations
Axisymmetric Problems

 2 2  1  1 2  n
  R  n ()    2 
2 n
 2 cot   2 2   R  n ()  
 R R R R  R  
1 d  d n 
 sin    n(n  1) n  0
sin  d   d 
1 d n ( x 2  1)
Solution can be written in terms of ( x  cos ) Legendre Polynomials Pn ( x )  n 
2 n ! dx n
 1 2 2 3 2 
 n  
R n
  1, z , z 2

3
( r  z ) , z 3

5
z (r  z 2 ) ,   . . . harmonic forms

Note if R n  n () is harmomic, then R n 2  n () will be biharmonic, so Love/Galerkin Potential 
1
Vz  B0 (r 2  z 2 )  B1 z (r 2  z 2 )    A0  A1 z  A2 [ z 2  (r 2  z 2 )]   (finite domains)
3
Vz  B0 (r 2  z 2 )1/ 2  B1 z (r 2  z 2 ) 1/ 2    A0 (r 2  z 2 ) 1/2  A1 z (r 2  z 2 ) 3/2   (infinite domains)

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Example 13.5 Spherical Cavity in Infinite Medium
Under Uniform Far-Field Stress
Spherical Stresses S

 R   r sin 2    z cos 2   2rz sin  cos 

   z sin 2   r cos 2   2rz sin  cos 
z
 R  ( r   z ) sin  cos   rz (sin 2   cos 2 )
To this state add several others to eliminate stresses y
on spherical cavity and vanish at infinity (see text details)  x a
 4  5 a 3 9 a5 
 z (r , 0)  S 1   
 2(7  5 ) r 3
2(7  5) r 5 
27  15 ( )
 z (a, 0)  ( z ) max  S ,   0.3  z max  2.04
2(7  5) S S
3.5 2.2
Normalized Stress in Loading Direction

3 2.15

2.5 Stress Concentration Factor

2.1
2 Two Dimensional Case: (r,/2)/S
2.05
1.5

2
1

0.5 1.95
Three Dimensional Case: z(r,0)/S ,  = 0.3
0 1.9
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Dimensionless Distance, r/a
Poisson's Ratio

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island
 Stress Functions (Zero Body Forces)
Elasticity Stress Formulation
1
Equilibrium Eqns: ij, j = 0 , Beltrami-Michell Eqns: ij,kk +  kk, ij = 0
1+
General 3-D Self-Equilibrated Form
ij  imp  jkl  mk . pl  ij  kk, ij  ij  kl, kl   ij, kk   li, lj +  lj, li -  kk, ij
where  ij is Symmetric Second Order Tensor - Beltrami Stress Function
Reduced Forms
Maxwell Stress Function Morera Stress Function
  11 0 0  0 12 13 
 0   0  23 
 ij =  0  22  i j = 12
 0 0  33   13  23 0 
11 =  33,22 +  22,33 11 = - 2  23,23
 22 =  11,33 +  33,11  22 = - 2  31,31
 33 =  22,11 +  11,22  33 = - 2  12,12
12 = -  33,12 12 = -  12,33 +  23,13 +  13,23
 23 = -  11,23  23 = -  23,11 +  13,21 +  12,31
 31 = -  22,31  31 = -  13,22 +  12,32 +  23,12

Elasticity Theory, Applications and Numerics

M.H. Sadd , University of Rhode Island