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Abstract This study proposes a simple and novel class of stretch-limiting constitutive relations for perfectly flexible elastic strings drawn from modern advances in constitutive theory for elastic bodies. We investigate strings governed by constitutive relations where stretch is a bounded, piecewise linear function of tension, extending beyond the traditional Cauchy elasticity framework. Our analysis includes explicit solutions for catenaries and longitudinal, piecewise constant stretched motions. 

The concept of ‘effective mass’ is frequently used for the simplification of complex lumped parameter systems (discrete dynamical systems) as well as materials that have complicated microstructural features. From the perspective of wave propagation, it is claimed that for some bodies described as metamaterials, the corresponding ‘effective mass’ can be frequency dependent, negative or it may not even be a scalar quantity. The procedure has even led some authors to suggest that Newton’s second law needs to be modified within the context of classical continuum mechanics. Such absurd physical conclusions are a consequence of appealing to the notion of ‘effective mass’ with a preconception for the constitutive structure of the metamaterial and using a correct mathematical procedure. We show that such unreasonable physical conclusions would not arise if we were to use the appropriate ‘effective constitutive relation’ for the metamaterial, rather than use the concept of ‘effective mass’ with an incorrect predetermined constitutive relation. 

We propose a thermodynamically based approach for constructing effective rate-type constitutive relations describing finite deformations of metamaterials. The effective constitutive relations are formulated as second-order in time rate-type Eulerian constitutive relations between only the Cauchy stress tensor, the Hencky strain tensor and objective time derivatives thereof. In particular, there is no need to introduce additional quantities or concepts such as “micro-level deformation”,“micromorphic continua”, or elastic solids with frequency dependent material properties. Moreover, the linearisation of the proposed fully nonlinear (finite deformations) constitutive relations leads, in Fourier/frequency space, to the same constitutive relations as those commonly used in theories based on the concepts of frequency dependent density and/or stiffness. From this perspective the proposed constitutive relations reproduce the behaviour predicted by the frequency dependent density and/or stiffness models, but yet they work with constant—that is motion independent—material properties. This is clearly more convenient from the physical point of view. Furthermore, the linearised version of the proposed constitutive relations leads to the governing partial differential equations that are particularly simple both in Fourier space as well as in physical space. Finally, we argue that the proposed fully nonlinear (finite deformations) second-order in time rate-type constitutive relations do not fall into traditional classes of models for elastic solids (hyperelastic solids/Green elastic solids, first-order in time hypoelastic solids), and that the proposed constitutive relations embody a new class of constitutive relations characterising elastic solids. 

We present an asymptotic framework that rigorously generates nonlinear constitutive relations between stress and linearized strain for elastic bodies. Each of these relations arises as the leading-order relationship satisfied by a oneparameter family of nonlinear constitutive relations between stress and nonlinear strain. The asymptotic parameter limits the overall range of strains that satisfy the corresponding constitutive relation in the one-parameter family, while the stresses can remain large (relative to a fixed stress scale). This differs from classical linearized elasticity where a fixed constitutive relation is assumed, and the magnitude of the displacement gradient serves as the asymptotic parameter. Also unlike classical approaches, the constitutive relations in our framework are expressed as implicit relationships between stress and strain rather than requiring stress explicitly expressed as a function of strain, adding conceptual simplicity and versatility. We demonstrate that our framework rigorously justifies nonlinear constitutive relations between stress and linearized strain including those with density-dependent Young’s moduli or derived from strain energies beyond quadratic forms.