Geometrically nonlinear Cosserat elasticity in the plane: applications to chirality

Abstract

Modelling two-dimensional chiral materials is a challenging problem in continuum mechanics because three-dimensional theories reduced to isotropic two-dimensional problems become non-chiral. Various approaches have been suggested to overcome this problem. We propose a new approach to this problem by formulating an intrinsically two-dimensional model which does not require references to a higher dimensional one. We are able to model planar chiral materials starting from a geometrically non-linear Cosserat type elasticity theory. Our results are in agreement with previously derived equations of motion but can contain additional terms due to our non-linear approach. Plane wave solutions are briefly discussed within this model.