STRUCTURE FORMATION IN RANDOM HETEROGENEOUS MATERIALS

A linear elastic model depending on random parameters is used to demonstrate the phenomena of structure evolution and pattern formation. It is shown that, under some conditions, the probability law of the random fields defining the material parameters may change in time. These changes are referred to as structure evolu-tion. An evolving structure is said to form a pattern if the probability law of the material parameters reaches a stationary functional form as time increases. Numerical results are reported for a two dimensional material subjected to constant elongation and shear rates