Complete General Solutions for Equilibrium Equations of Isotropic Strain Gradient Elasticity

In this paper, we consider isotropic Mindlin-Toupin strain gradient elasticity theory, in which the equilibrium equations contain two additional length-scale parameters and have the fourth order. For this theory, we developed an extended form of Boussinesq-Galerkin (BG) and Papkovich-Neuber (PN) general solutions. The obtained form of BG solution allows to define the displacement field through a single vector function that obeys the eight-order bi-harmonic/bi-Helmholtz equation. The developed PN form of the solution provides an additive decomposition of the displacement field into the classical and gradient parts that are defined through the standard Papkovich stress functions and modified Helmholtz decomposition, respectively. Relations between different stress functions and the completeness theorem for the derived general solutions are established. As an example, it is shown that a previously known fundamental solution within the strain gradient elasticity can be derived by using the developed PN general solution.

Automated summary

This paper considers isotropic Mindlin-Toupin strain gradient elasticity theory and develops extended forms of Boussinesq-Galerkin and Papkovich-Neuber solutions. The displacement field is defined and decomposed in this theory, and relations between different stress functions and the completeness theorem for the derived general solutions are established.