YIELD STRENGTH OF INCLUSION-REINFORCED MA TERIALS AS MICROPOLAR CONTINUA

Starting from a mixed modelling of a matrix material reinforced by reg ularly embedded inclusions regarded as straight beams, and through a h omogenization procedure making use of the virtual work method, a micro polar description is obtained for the homogenized composite medium. Th e model is implemented within the context of the yield design theory, the strength properties of the reinforced matrix material being simply deduced from those of its individual components. The upper bound kine matic method is then applied to the stability analysis of a reinforced vertical excavation. (C) Academie des Sciences/Elsevier, Paris.