NONLINEARITY, PERIODICITY AND PATTERNING IN PLASTICITY AND FRACTURE

The role and implications of microstructure heterogeneity and non-line arity in interpreting a variety of experimental observations during pl astic flow and fracture are outlined. Traditionally, these observation s were not related to theoretical modelling efforts as recent techniqu es in non-linear dynamics were not available and usual applications we re limited to standard materials and processes where micro- and macros cales do nor interact and can be treated independently. Advanced techn ology has imposed the need for the development of models accounting fo r scale coupling effects. One class of such models, the so-called grad ient models, will be described in the paper in connection with the phe nomena of dislocation and strain patterning, as well as with existing observations on oscillatory fracture. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.