Truss modular beams with deformation energy depending on higher displacement gradients

Until now, no third gradient theory has been proposed to describe the homogenized energy associated with a microscopic structure. In this paper, we prove that this is possible using pantographic-type structures. Their deformation energies involve combinations of nodal displacements having the form of second-order or third-order finite differences. We establish the T-convergence of these energies to second and third gradient functionals. Some mechanical examples are provided so as to illustrate the special features of these homogenized models.