Hyper-elastic constitutive equations of conjugate stresses and strain tensors for the Seth–Hill strain measures

The use of hypo-elastic constitutive equations for large strains in nonlinear finite element applications usually requires special considerations. For example, the strain does not tend to zero upon unloading in some elastic loading–unloading closed cycles. Furthermore, these equations are based on objective material time rate tensors, which require incrementally objective algorithms for numerical applications and integration. Hyper-elastic constitutive equations on the other hand do not require such considerations. However, their behaviour for large elastic strains is important and may differ in tension and compression. In the present work, Hyper-elastic constitutive equations for the Seth–Hill strains and their conjugate stresses are explored as a natural generalisation of Hook’s law for finite elastic deformations. Based on the uniaxial and simple shear tests, the response of the material for different constitutive equations is examined. Together with an objective rate model, the effect of different constitutive laws on Cauchy stress components is compared. It is shown that the constitutive equation based on logarithmic strain and its conjugate stress gives results closer to that of the rate model. In addition, the use of Biot stress–strain pairs for a bar element results in an elastic spring which obeys the Hook’s law even for large deformations and has the same behaviour in both tension and compression. The effect of the constitutive equation on the volume change of the material has also been considered here. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]