49J40 Variational methods including variational inequalities [See also 47J20]
Classical gradient systems have a linear relation between rates and driving forces. In generalized gradient systems we allow for arbitrary relations derived from general non-quadratic dissipation potentials. This paper describes two natural origins for these structures.
A first microscopic origin of generalized gradient structures is given by the theory of large-deviation principles. While Markovian diffusion processes lead to classical gradient structures, Poissonian jump processes give rise to cosh-type dissipation potentials.
A second origin arises via a new form of convergence, that we call EDP-convergence. Even when starting with classical gradient systems, where the dissipation potential is a quadratic functional of the rate, we may obtain a generalized gradient system in the evolutionary -limit. As examples we treat (i) the limit of a diffusion equation having a thin layer of low diffusivity, which leads to a membrane model, and (ii) the limit of difusion over a high barrier, which gives a reaction-diffusion system.
In this paper, we introduce and study analytically a vectorial Cahn-Hilliard reaction model coupled with rate-dependent damage processes. The recently proposed Cahn-Hilliard reaction model can e.g. be used to describe the behavior of electrodes of lithium-ion batteries as it includes both the intercalation reactions at the surfaces and the separation into different phases. The coupling with the damage process allows considering simultaneously the evolution of a damage field, a second important physical effect occurring during the charging or discharging of lithium-ion batteries.
Mathematically, this is realized by a Cahn-Larché system with a non-linear Newton boundary condition for the chemical potential and a doubly non-linear differential inclusion for the damage evolution. We show that this system possesses an underlying generalized gradient structure which incorporates the non-linear Newton boundary condition. Using this gradient structure and techniques from the field of convex analysis we are able to prove constructively the existence of weak solutions of the
coupled PDE system.
In these notes we discuss two approaches to evolutionary Γ- convergence of gradient systems in Hilbert spaces. The formulation of the gradient system is based on two functionals, namely the energy functional and the dissipation potential, which allows us to employ Γ- convergence methods. In the first approach we consider families of uni- formly convex energy functionals such that the limit passage of the time-dependent problems can be based on the theory of evolutionary variational inequalities as developed by Daneri and Savar ́e 2010. The second approach uses the equivalent formulation of the gradient system via the energy-dissipation principle and follows the ideas of Sandier and Serfaty 2004.
We apply both approaches to rigorously derive homogenization limits for Cahn–Hilliard-type equations. Using the method of weak and strong two-scale convergence via periodic unfolding, we show that the energy and dissipation functionals Γ-converge. In conclusion, we will give specific examples for the applicability of each of the two approaches.
This paper focuses on
rate-independent damage in elastic bodies. Since the driving energy is nonconvex,
solutions may have jumps as a function of time, and in this situation it is known that the classical concept
of energetic solutions for rate-independent systems
may fail to accurately describe the
behavior of the system at jumps.
Therefore, we resort to the (by now well-established) vanishing viscosity approach to rate-independent modeling
and approximate the model by its viscous regularization.
In fact, the analysis of the latter PDE system presents
remarkable difficulties, due to its highly nonlinear character.
We tackle it by combining a variational approach to a class of abstract doubly nonlinear evolution equations, with
careful regularity estimates tailored to this specific system relying on a q-Laplacian type gradient regularization of the damage variable.
Hence, for the viscous problem we conclude the existence of weak solutions satisfying a
suitable energy-dissipation inequality that is the starting point for the vanishing viscosity analysis.
The latter leads to the notion of (weak) parameterized
solution to our rate-independent system,
which encompasses the influence of viscosity in the description of the jump regime.
Complete damage in linear elastic materials — Modeling, weak formulation and existence results
(2013)
In this work, we introduce a degenerating PDE system with a time-depending
domain for complete damage processes under time-varying
Dirichlet boundary conditions. The evolution of the system is
described by a doubly nonlinear differential inclusion for the damage
process and a degenerating quasi-static balance equation for the displacement field
which are strongly nonlinearly coupled.
In our proposed model, the material
may completely disintegrate which is indispensable for a realistic modeling of
damage processes in elastic materials. Complete damage theories
lead to several mathematical problems since, for instance, coercivity properties
of the free energy are lost and, therefore, several difficulties arise.
For the introduced complete damage model, we propose a classical
formulation and a corresponding suitable weak formulation in an
$SBV$-framework. The main aim is to prove existence of weak solutions
for the introduced degenerating model. In addition, we show that the classical
differential inclusion can be regained from the notion of weak solutions under
certain regularity assumptions which is a novelty in the theory of complete damage
models of this type.
For the existence results, we had to handle the following problem:
During the damage process it might occur that not completely damaged material regions are isolated
from the Dirichlet boundary. In this case, the
deformation field cannot be controlled in the transition from incomplete
to complete damage. To tackle this problem, we consider the evolution
process on a time-depending domain. In this context, two major challenges
arise:
Firstly, the time-dependent domain approach leads to jumps in the energy
which have to be accounted for in the energy inequality of the notion of
weak solutions. To handle this problem, several energy estimates are established
by $\Gamma$-convergence techniques. Secondly, the time-depending domain
might have bad smoothness properties such that Korn's inequality cannot be
applied. To this end, a covering result for such sets with smooth
compactly embedded domains has been shown.
A typical phase field approach for describing phase separation and
coarsening phenomena in alloys is the Cahn-Hilliard model. This
model has been generalized to the so-called Cahn-Larche system
by combining it with elasticity to capture non-neglecting deformation
phenomena,
which occur during phase separation and coarsening processes in the material.
In order to account for damage effects,
we extend the existing framework of Cahn-Hilliard and Cahn-Larche
systems by incorporating an internal damage variable of local character. This
damage variable allows to model the effect that damage of a material point is influenced by its local surrounding.
The damage process is described by a unidirectional rate-dependent evolution inclusion
for the internal variable.
For the introduced Cahn-Larche systems
coupled with rate-dependent
damage processes, we
establish a suitable notion of weak solutions and prove existence of weak solutions.
The focus of this note lies on the numerical analysis of models describing the propagation
of a single crack in a linearly elastic material. The evolution of the crack is modeled as a
rate-independent process based on the Griffith criterion. We follow two different approaches
for setting up mathematically well defined models: the global energetic approach and an
approach based on a viscous regularization.
We prove the convergence of solutions of fully discretized models (i.e. with respect to time
and space) and derive relations between the discretization parameters (mesh size, time step
size, viscosity parameter, crack increment) which guarantee the convergence of the schemes.
Further, convergence rates are provided for the approximation of energy release rates by
certain discrete energy release rates. Thereby we discuss both, models with self-contact
conditions on the crack faces as well as models with pure Neumann conditions on the crack
faces. The convergence proofs rely on regularity estimates for the elastic fields close to the
crack tip and local and global finite element error estimates. Finally the theoretical results
are illustrated with some numerical calculations.
The ability of velocity methods to describe changes
of topology by creating defects like holes is investigated. For the shape optimization energy-type objective functions are considered, which depend on the geometry by means of state variables. The state system is represented by abstract, quadratic, constrained minimization problems stated over domains with defects. The velocity
method provides the shape derivative of the objective function due to finite variations of a defect. Suffcient conditions are
derived which allow us to pass the shape derivative to the limit
with respect to diminishing defect, thus, to obtain the "topological derivative" of the objective function due to a topology change.
An illustrative example is presented for a circular hole bored at
the tip of a crack.
The ability of velocity methods to describe changes
of topology by creating defects like holes is investigated. For the
shape optimization energy-type objective functions are considered,
which depend on the geometry by means of state variables. The
state system is represented by abstract, quadratic, constrained
minimization problems stated over domains with defects. The velocity
method provides the shape derivative of the objective function
due to finite variations of a defect. Sufficient conditions are
derived which allow us to pass the shape derivative to the limit
with respect to diminishing defect, thus, to obtain the topological
derivative" of the objective function due to a topology change.
An illustrative example is presented for a circular hole bored at
the tip of a crack
This paper deals with error estimates for space-time
discretizations of 3D model for isothermal stress-induced
transformations in shape-memory materials. After recalling
existence and uniqueness results, a fully-discrete approximation is presented and an explicit space-time
convergence rate of order is derived.