Consistent linearization of micromorphic continuum theories

Abstract

We outline the procedure of consistent linearization and apply it to the micromorphic, microstretch, and micropolar theories of continua. This yields tractable linear theories for nonlinearly elastic microstructured materials undergoing finite deformations. The results may be readily utilized in computational mechanics, stability and bifurcation analyses, and small-deformation problems in the context of these types of continua. Our results generalize those existing in current literature and facilitate their recovery upon incorporating appropriate kinematic and constitutive assumptions.