ELASTICITY OF MULTILAYERS .1. BASIC EQUATIONS AND SOLUTIONS

Multilayer structures, such as oxide or protective layers on a substra te, sandwich structures in electronics or magnetics, layered composite s or simply thin foils, are of technological importance. Mechanically they are characterized by a variation of elastic constants with respec t to the direction normal to the layer interfaces. These layered struc tures, if they are of finite extent, may be loaded externally, or, if of infinite extent, can be subject to line defects (dislocations or fo rces) and transformation (or thermal) strains. In this paper (part I) we develop the foundations of the anisotropic theory of elasticity und er generalized plane strain for unidirectional heterogeneity and give the fundamental solution for line defects and transformation strains. Part II discusses sandwich structures and finite configurations.