Connecting Atomistic and Continuous Models of Elastodynamics

Abstract

We prove long-time existence of solutions for the equations of atomistic elastodynamics on a bounded domain with time-dependent boundary values as well as their convergence to a solution of continuum nonlinear elastodynamics as the interatomic distances tend to zero. Here, the continuum energy density is given by the Cauchy-Born rule. The models considered allow for general finite range interactions. To control the stability of large deformations we also prove a new atomistic G{\aa}rding inequality.