EQUILIBRIUM CONDITIONS AT CORNERS AND EDGES OF AN INTERFACE IN A MULTIPHASE SOLID

In various situations such as coherent precipitation, martensitic tran sformation, recrystallization, and grain growth the kinetics of phase boundaries play a crucial role in determining the microstructure and t he resulting macroscopic properties. By performing a variational calcu lation in a two dimensional setting, we find the equilibrium condition s at corners, where two interfaces meet, and at edges, where an interf ace meets the boundary of a finite body. We allow for possible singula rities in the bulk stress at corners and edges. The general case consi ders elastic energy for the bulk and anisotropic energies for the surf aces. Special cases treated are: (i) constant bulk energy or purely su rface case; (ii) purely elastic case or zero surface energy; and (iii) constant surface energy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.