A proposal for defining continuous distribution
of dislocations for objective structures
Received: 18 February 2014 / Accepted: 6 May 2014 / Published online: 17 May 2014
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
AbstractThough targeting at different scales, the theory of objective structures and the theory of materially
uniform bodies have some issues in common. We highlight those aspects of the two theories that share
similar ideas, as well as delineate areas where they are inherently different. Prompt by the fact that materially
uniform but inhomogeneous bodies ultimately describe dislocations into solids, we propose a way for defining
continuous distribution of dislocations for objective structures. In the course of doing, so we draw upon
combined theories of algebraic topology and discrete exterior calculus to model crystal elasticity. We also
need a generalization of the theory of materially uniform bodies suitable for a class of micromorphic bodies.
KeywordsObjective structures· Materially uniform bodies· Inhomogeneous bodies