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This paper presents a comprehensive review of the far-field-based methodology of estimation of the effective properties of multi-phase composites that was pioneered by Maxwell in 1873 in the context of effective electrical conductivity of a particle-reinforced material. Maxwell suggested that a cluster of particles embedded in an infinite medium subjected to a uniform electrical field has the same far-field asymptotic as an equivalent sphere whose conductivity is equal to the effective one; this yields closed-form formula for the effective conductivity. Our review focuses on subsequent developments of Maxwell’s idea in various applications and on its range of applicability. The conclusion is that, 145 years later, the methodology is still alive and well.

This paper explores the possibility of using the Gurtin-Murdoch theory of material surface for modeling mechanical processes in nanomaterials reinforced by two-dimensional flexible and extensible nanoplatelets. In accordance with the theory, reinforcement is modeled by a vanishing thickness prestressed membrane embedded in an isotropic elastic matrix material. The governing equations for the model are reviewed with a detailed discussion of the conditions at the membrane tips. Plane strain assumption is made and with the purpose of representing the displacements in the bulk material, a single layer elastic potential is employed, with the density representing the jump in tractions across the membrane. Expressions for the remaining elastic fields are provided in terms of complex integral representations. The case of a rectilinear membrane of finite length is considered in detail. Numerical solution for this case is based on the use of approximations that automatically incorporate the membrane-tip conditions into the resulting system of boundary integral equations. Numerical examples illustrate the influence of governing dimensionless parameters and present simulations of the local elastic fields in the materials under study. Additionally, it is shown that, in absence of surface tension, the problem considered here is related to that of a membrane type elastic inhomogeneity embedded into a homogeneous elastic medium.

The paper presents the complex variables-based approach for analytical evaluation of three-dimensional integrals involved in boundary integral representations (potentials) for the Helmholtz equation. The boundary element is assumed to be planar bounded by an arbitrary number of straight lines and/or circular arcs. The integrals are re-written in local (element) coordinates, while in-plane components of the fields are described in terms of certain complex combinations. The use of Cauchy–Pompeiu formula (a particular case of Bochner–Martinelli formula) allows for the reduction of surface integrals over the element to the line integrals over its boundary. By considering the requirement of the minimum number of elements per wavelength and using an asymptotic analysis, analytical expressions for the line integrals are obtained for various density functions. A comparative study of numerical and analytical integration for particular integrals over two types of elements is performed.

This paper presents a new boundary element-based approach for solving three-dimensional problems of an elastic medium containing multiple cracks of arbitrary shapes. The medium could be loaded by far-field stress (for infinite domains), surface tractions (including those at the cracks surfaces), or point loads. Constant body forces are also allowed. The elastic fields outside of the cracks are represented by integral identities. Triangular elements are employed to discretize the boundaries. Integration over each element is performed analytically. In-plane components of the fields are combined in various complex combinations to simplify the integration. No singular integrals are involved since the limit, as the field point approaches the boundary, is taken after the integration. The collocation method is used to set up the system of linear algebraic equations to find the unknown boundary displacements and tractions. No special procedure is required to evaluate the fields outside of the boundaries, as the integration is performed before the limit is taken. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the capacity of the method.

The direct formulation of the complex variables boundary element method is generalized to allow for solving problems with constant body forces. The hypersingular integral equation for two-dimensional piecewise homogeneous medium is presented and the numerical solution is described. The technique can be used to solve a wide variety of problems in engineering. Several examples are presented to verify the approach and to demonstrate its key features. The results of calculations performed with the proposed approach are compared with available analytical and numerical benchmark solutions.

A computational technique based on Maxwell's methodology is presented for evaluating the effective thermal conductivity of isotropic materials with periodic or random arrangement of spherical pores. The basic idea of the approach is to construct an equivalent sphere in an infinite space whose effects on the temperature at distant points are the same as those of a finite cluster of spherical pores arranged in a pattern representative of the material in question. The thermal properties of the equivalent sphere then define the effective thermal properties of the material. This procedure is based on a semi-analytical solution of a problem of an infinite space containing a cluster of non-overlapping spherical pores under prescribed temperature gradient at infinity. The method works equally well for periodic and random arrays of spherical pores.

The effects of surface elasticity and surface tension on the transverse overall behavior of unidirectional nano-scale fiber-reinforced composites are studied. The interfaces between the nano-fibers and the matrix are regarded as material surfaces described by the Gurtin and Murdoch model. The analysis is based on the equivalent inhomogeneity technique. In this technique, the effective elastic properties of the material are deduced from the analysis of a small cluster of fibers embedded into an infinite plane. All interactions between the inhomogeneities in the cluster are precisely accounted for. The results related to the effects of surface elasticity are compared with those provided by the modified generalized self-consistent method, which only indirectly accounts for the interactions between the inhomogeneities. New results related to the effects of surface tension are presented. Although the approach employed is applicable to all transversely isotropic composites, in this paper we consider only a hexagonal arrangement of circular cylindrical fibers.

SUMMARY A two-dimensional transient heat conduction problem of multiple interacting circular inhomogeneities, cavities and point sources is considered. In general, a non-perfect contact at the matrix/inhomogeneity interfaces is assumed, with the heat flux through the interface proportional to the temperature jump. The approach is based on the use of the general solutions to the problems of a single cavity and an inhomogeneity and superposition. Application of the Laplace transform and the so-called addition theorem results in an analytical transformed solution. The solution in the time domain is obtained by performing a numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. Several numerical examples are given to demonstrate the accuracy and the efficiency of the method. The approximation error decreases exponentially with the number of the degrees of freedom in the problem. A comparison of the companion two- and threedimensional problems demonstrates the effect of the dimensionality. Copyright q 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This paper considers a transient heat conduction problem for an infinite medium with multiple nonoverlapping spherical cavities. Suddenly applied, steady Dirichlet-, Neumannor Robin-type boundary conditions are assumed. The approach is based on the use of the general solution to the problem of a single cavity and superposition. Application of the Laplace transform and the so-called addition theorem results in a semi-analytical transformed solution for the case of multiple cavities. The solution in the time domain is obtained by performing a numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. A large-time asymptotic series for the temperature is obtained. The limiting case of infinitely large time results in the solution for the corresponding steady-state problem. Several numerical examples that demonstrate the accuracy and the efficiency of the method are presented. Copyright 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The paper considers the problem of multiple interacting circular nano-inhomogeneities or/and nano-pores located in one of two joined, dissimilar isotropic elastic half-planes. The analysis is based on the solutions of the elastostatic problems for (i) the bulk material of two bonded, dissimilar elastic half-planes and (ii) the bulk material of a circular disc. These solutions are coupled with the Gurtin and Murdoch model of material surfaces [Gurtin ME, Murdoch AI. A continuum theory of elastic material surfaces. Arch Ration Mech Anal 1975;57:291–323; Gurtin ME, Murdoch AI. Surface stress in solids. Int J Solids Struct 1978;14:431–40.]. Each elastostatic problem is solved with the use of complex Somigliana traction identity [Mogilevskaya SG, Linkov AM. Complex fundamental solutions and complex variables boundary element method in elasticity. Comput Mech 1998;22:88–92]. The complex boundary displacements and tractions at each circular boundary are approximated by a truncated complex Fourier series, and the unknown Fourier coefficients are found from a system of linear algebraic equations obtained by using a Taylor series expansion. The resulting semi-analytical method allows one to calculate the elastic fields everywhere in the half-planes and inside the nano-inhomogeneities. Numerical examples demonstrate that (i) the method is effective in solving the problems with multiple nano-inhomogeneities, and (ii) the elastic response of a composite system is profoundly influenced by the sizes of the nano-features.

The paper presents a numerical study of the three-dimensional problem of cracks interacting with a cylindrical uniformly pressurized borehole. The theoretical developments describe general case in which the axis of the borehole can be inclined to the vertical direction, the cracks are either located outside of the borehole or emanate from it, and the in-situ stresses are uniform with major principal stress acting in vertical direction. The tractions are prescribed at the cracks surfaces that includes two limiting cases of traction-free cracks (“fast pressurization”) or cracks subjected to uniform load equal to that applied at the surface of the borehole (“slow pressurization”). The study is based on the complex integral representations for the three-dimensional fields around the borehole-crack system. The boundary surfaces are approximated using triangular mesh and quadratic polynomials are employed for approximating the boundary unknowns. The prescribed boundary conditions are met using “limit after discretization” procedure. The linear algebraic system to find the unknowns is set up by the collocation method. Two numerical benchmarks are presented.

The paper presents a semi-analytical method for solving the problem of two joined, dissimilar isotropic elastic half-planes, one of which contains a large number of arbitrary located, non-overlapping, perfectly bonded circular elastic inhomogeneities. In general, the inhomogeneities may have different elastic properties and sizes. The analysis is based on a solution of a complex singular integral equation with the unknown tractions at each circular boundary approximated by a truncated complex Fourier series. A system of linear algebraic equations is obtained by using a Taylor series expansion. Apart from round-off, the only errors introduced into the solution are due to truncation of the Fourier series. The resulting semi-analytical method allows one to calculate the elastic fields everywhere in the half-planes and inside the inhomogeneities. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

The problem of an infinite solid containing an arbitrary number of non-overlapping spherical cavities and inclusions with arbitrary sizes and locations is considered. The infinite solid and the spherical inclusions are made of different isotropic, linearly elastic materials. The spherical cavities are assumed to carry arbitrary tractions, and the spherical inclusions are assumed to be perfectly bonded to the infinite solid. The boundary and interfacial displacements and tractions are represented by truncated series of surface spherical harmonics. The problem involving multiple spherical features is replaced by a sequence of problems involving a single spherical feature via Schwarz's alternating method which accounts for the interactions in the course of an iterative process. Problems involving a single spherical feature are solved by employing the Papkovich–Neuber functions, and the interactions are evaluated by applying a least squares method. A robust scheme is introduced to control the total errors on the spherical boundaries and interfaces and to choose the number of terms in the series expansions. Several numerical examples are given to address the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method.

This paper discusses applications of Somiglina's identities to the solutions of elasticity problems with spherical boundaries. The components of the boundary displacements and tractions involved in the identities are represented as truncated series of surface spherical harmonics, and all of the integrals involved in the formulae are evaluated analytically. The classical problems of a solid sphere, a spherical cavity, and a perfectly bonded spherical inhomogeneity (an inclusion with the elastic properties different from those of the surrounding material) are solved with the use of Somiglina's identities. Extensions of the new solutions to more complicated three-dimensional problems with spherical boundaries are discussed.

Complex variable integral equations for linear viscoelasticity derived in Part I [Huang Y, Mogilevskaya SG, Crouch SL. Complex variable boundary integral method for linear viscoelasticity. Part I—basic formulations. Eng Anal Bound Elem 2006; in press, doi: 10.1016/j.enganabound.2005.12.007 .] are employed to solve the problem of an infinite viscoelastic plane containing a circular hole. The viscoelastic material behaves as a Boltzmann model in shear and its bulk response is elastic. Constant or time-dependent stresses are applied at the boundary of the hole, or, if desired, at infinity. Time-dependent variables on the circular boundary (displacements or tractions in the direct formulation of the complex variable boundary integral method or unknown complex density functions in the indirect formulations) are represented by truncated complex Fourier series with time-dependent coefficients and all the space integrals involved are evaluated analytically. Analytical Laplace transform and its inversion are adopted to accomplish the evaluation of the associated time convolutions. Several examples are given to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the method. Generalization of the approach to the problems with multiple holes is discussed.

The basic formulations (direct and indirect) of the complex variable boundary integral method for linear viscoelasticity are presented. Complex variable temporal integral equations for the formulations are obtained for viscoelastic solids whose behavior in shear is governed by a Boltzmann model while the bulk behavior is purely elastic. The functions involved in the integral equations are the time-dependent complex boundary tractions and displacements for the direct approach and the unknown time-dependent complex density functions for the indirect approaches. The temporal integral equations give the displacements and stresses at a point inside a viscoelastic region in terms of time convolution and space integrals over the boundary of this region. The equations are valid for the boundaries of arbitrary shapes provided that these boundaries are sufficiently smooth. Complex variable temporal boundary equations are obtained by taking the inner point to the boundary. Numerical treatment of spatial and time convolution integrals involved in the boundary equations is discussed.

This paper presents a semi-analytical method for solving the problem of an isotropic elastic half-plane containing a large number of randomly distributed, non-overlapping, circular holes of arbitrary sizes. The boundary of the half-plane is assumed to be traction-free and a uniform far-field stress acts parallel to that boundary. The boundaries of the holes are assumed to be either traction-free or subjected to constant normal pressure. The analysis is based on solution of complex hypersingular integral equation with the unknown displacements at each circular boundary approximated by a truncated complex Fourier series. A system of linear algebraic equations is obtained by using a Taylor series expansion. The resulting semi-analytical method allows one to calculate the elastic fields everywhere in the half-plane. Several examples available in the literature are re-examined and corrected, and new benchmark examples with multiple holes are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

A complex boundary integral equation method, combined with series expansion technique, is presented for the problem of an infinite, isotropic elastic plane containing multiple circular holes. Loading is applied at infinity or on the boundaries of the holes. The sizes and locations of the holes are arbitrary provided they do not overlap. The analysis procedure is based on the use of a complex hypersingular integral equation that expresses a direct relationship between all the boundary tractions and displacements. The unknown displacements on each circular boundary are represented by truncated complex Fourier series, and all of the integrals involved in the complex integral equation are evaluated analytically. A system of linear algebraic equations is obtained by using a Taylor series expansion, and the block Gauss–Seidel algorithm is used to solve the system. Several numerical examples are considered to demonstrate the accuracy, versatility, and efficiency of the approach.

This paper considers the problem of an infinite, isotropic elastic plane containing an arbitrary number of non-overlapping circular holes and isotropic elastic inclusions. The holes and inclusions are of arbitrary size and the elastic properties of all of the inclusions can, if desired, be different. The analysis is based on the two-dimensional version of Somigliana's formula, which gives the displacements at a point inside a region V in terms of integrals of the tractions and displacements over the boundary S of this region. We take V to be the infinite plane, and S to be an arbitrary number of circular holes within this plane. Any (or all) of the holes can contain an elastic inclusion, and we assume for simplicity that all inclusions are perfectly bonded to the material matrix. The displacements and tractions on each circular boundary are represented as truncated Fourier series, and all of the integrals involved in Somigliana's formula are evaluated analytically. An iterative solution algorithm is used to solve the resulting system of linear algebraic equations. Several examples are given to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the numerical method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The problem of an infinite, isotropic elastic plane containing an arbitrary number of circular elastic inclusions is considered. The analysis procedure is based on the use of a complex singular integral equation. The unknown tractions at each circular boundary are approximated by a truncated complex Fourier series. A system of linear algebraic equations is obtained by using the classical Galerkin method and the Gauss–Seidel algorithm is used to solve the system. Several numerical examples are considered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The paper presents an analysis of elasticity problems involving a single inhomogeneity which possesses certain types of symmetries. As observed earlier, isotropic problems of that kind exhibit some ‘strange’ and remarkable properties. Under the action of uniform far-field stresses, the averages of the fields inside the inhomogeneities preserve the structure of the far-field loads. Here, it is shown that these properties are exhibited for a wider class of problems, which include anisotropic and non-uniform materials subjected to either far-field loads or constant transformational strains within the inhomogeneity. The proposed modified Eshelby technique facilitates a straightforward analysis of these problems, which is based entirely on the assumed symmetry. It is also shown that some remarkable properties of symmetric inhomogeneities discovered here are related to the so-called ‘strange’ properties of the Eshelby inclusions extensively covered in the literature. Some implications of these findings are discussed.