A framework for elasto-plastic hydrodynamics

A framework for equations governing the time evolution of the physical systems that can change their behavior reversibly from solid-like to fluid-like (e.g., gels) are introduced in this Letter by combining the fluid-particle dynamics with Euler hydrodynamics. This means that we do not begin with splitting the deformation into elastic and plastic parts but rather with an introduction of two velocity fields into the set of independent state variables: an overall fluid velocity and the superimposed on it velocity of solid-like deformations. The analysis is conducted in the geometrical setting that guarantees the compatibility with thermodynamics. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.