On Aspects of Gradient Elasticity: Green’s Functions and Concentrated Forces

In the first part of our review paper, we consider the problem of approximating the Green’s function of the Lagrange chain by continuous analogs. It is shown that the use of continuous equations based on the two-point Padé approximants gives good results. In the second part of the paper, the problem of singularities arising in the classical theory of elasticity with affecting concentrated loadings is considered. To overcome this problem, instead of a transition to the gradient theory of elasticity, it is proposed to change the concept of concentrated effort. Namely, the Dirac delta function is replaced by the Whittaker–Shannon–Kotel’nikov interpolating function. The only additional parameter that characterizes the microheterogeneity of the medium is used. An analog of the Flamant problem is considered as an example. The found solution does not contain singularities and tends to the classical one when the microheterogeneity parameter approaches zero. The derived formulas have a simpler form compared to those obtained by the gradient theory of elasticity