On complete and micropolar-based incomplete strain gradient theories for periodic lattice structures

The micropolar (MP) and strain gradient (SG) continua have been generally adopted to investigate the relations between the macroscopic elastic constants and the microstructural geometric parameters. Owing to the fact that the microrotation in the MP theory can be expressed in terms of the displacement gradient components, we may regard the MP theory as a particular incomplete SG theory called the MPSG theory, compared with the existing SG theories which are deemed complete since all the SGs are included. Taking the triangular lattice comprising zigzag beams as an example, it is found that as the angle of the zigzag beams increases, the bending of the beams plays a more important role in the total strain energy, and the difference between the results by the two theories gradually decreases. Finally, the models are verified with the pure bending and simple shear of lattices by comparing with the results obtained by the finite element method (FEM)-based structure analyses.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relations between macroscopic elastic constants and microstructural geometric parameters using the micropolar and strain gradient continua. By comparing the results of different theories for triangular lattice, it is found that the bending of the beams plays a more significant role in total strain energy as the angle of the zigzag beams increases, and the difference between the results by the two theories gradually decreases. The models are validated through comparison with results obtained by the finite element method.