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Sergio Conti

Publications and source records attributed to Sergio Conti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2021

Model-free Data-Driven Inference

We present a model-free data-driven inference method that enables inferences on system outcomes to be derived directly from empirical data without the need for intervening modeling of any type, be it modeling of a material law or modeling of a prior distribution of material states. We specifically consider physical systems with states characterized by points in a phase space determined by the governing field equations. We assume that the system is characterized by two likelihood measures: one $μ_D$ measuring the likelihood of observing a material state in phase space; and another $μ_E$ measuring the likelihood of states satisfying the field equations, possibly under random actuation. We introduce a notion of intersection between measures which can be interpreted to quantify the likelihood of system outcomes. We provide conditions under which the intersection can be characterized as the athermal limit $μ_\infty$ of entropic regularizations $μ_β$, or thermalizations, of the product measure $μ= μ_D\times μ_E$ as $β\to +\infty$. We also supply conditions under which $μ_\infty$ can be obtained as the athermal limit of carefully thermalized $(μ_{h,β_h})$ sequences of empirical data sets $(μ_h)$ approximating weakly an unknown likelihood function $μ$. In particular, we find that the cooling sequence $β_h \to +\infty$ must be slow enough, corresponding to quenching, in order for the proper limit $μ_\infty$ to be delivered. Finally, we derive explicit analytic expressions for expectations $\mathbb{E}[f]$ of outcomes $f$ that are explicit in the data, thus demonstrating the feasibility of the model-free data-driven paradigm as regards making convergent inferences directly from the data without recourse to intermediate modeling steps.

math.FA↗
arXiv2021

Density of polyhedral partitions

We prove the density of polyhedral partitions in the set of finite Caccioppoli partitions. Precisely, we consider a decomposition $u$ of a bounded Lipschitz set $Ω\subset\mathbb R^n$ into finitely many subsets of finite perimeter, which can be identified with a function in $SBV_{\rm loc}(Ω;{\cal Z})$ with ${\cal Z}\subset \mathbb R^N$ a finite set of parameters. For all $\varepsilon>0$ we prove that such a $u$ is $\varepsilon$-close to a small deformation of a polyhedral decomposition $v_\varepsilon$, in the sense that there is a $C^1$ diffeomorphism $f_\varepsilon:\mathbb R^n\to\mathbb R^n$ which is $\varepsilon$-close to the identity and such that $u\circ f_\varepsilon-v_\varepsilon$ is $\varepsilon$-small in the strong $BV$ norm. This implies that the energy of $u$ is close to that of $v_\varepsilon$ for a large class of energies defined on partitions. Such type of approximations are very useful in order to simplify computations in the estimates of $Γ$-limits.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Cohesive fracture in 1D: quasi-static evolution and derivation from static phase-field models

In this paper we propose a notion of irreversibility for the evolution of cracks in presence of cohesive forces, which allows for different responses in the loading and unloading processes, motivated by a variational approximation with damage models. We investigate its applicability to the construction of a quasi-static evolution in a simple one-dimensional model. The cohesive fracture model arises naturally via Gamma-convergence from a phase-field model of the generalized Ambrosio-Tortorelli type, which may be used as regularization for numerical simulations.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

$\mathscr{A}$-Quasiconvexity and Partial Regularity

We establish the first partial regularity result for local minima of strongly $\mathscr{A}$-quasiconvex integrals in the case where the differential operator $\mathscr{A}$ possesses an elliptic potential $\mathbb{A}$. As the main ingredient, the proof works by reduction to the partial regularity for full gradient functionals. Specialising to particular differential operators, the results in this paper thereby equally yield novel partial regularity theorems in the cases of the trace-free symmetric gradient, the exterior derivative or the div-curl-operator.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Derivation of strain-gradient plasticity from a generalized Peierls-Nabarro model

We derive strain-gradient plasticity from a nonlocal phase-field model of dislocations in a plane. Both a continuous energy with linear growth depending on a measure which characterizes the macroscopic dislocation density and a nonlocal effective energy representing the far-field interaction between dislocations arise naturally as scaling limits of the nonlocal elastic interaction. Relaxation and formation of microstructures at intermediate scales are automatically incorporated in the limiting procedure based on $Γ$-convergence.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Energy scaling laws for geometrically linear elasticity models for microstructures in shape memory alloys

We consider a singularly-perturbed two-well problem in the context of planar geometrically linear elasticity to model a rectangular martensitic nucleus in an austenitic matrix. We derive the scaling regimes for the minimal energy in terms of the problem parameters, which represent the {shape} of the nucleus, the quotient of the elastic moduli of the two phases, the surface energy constant, and the volume fraction of the two martensitic variants. We identify several different scaling regimes, which are distinguished either by the exponents in the parameters, or by logarithmic corrections, for which we have matching upper and lower bounds.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Data-Driven Finite Elasticity

We extend to finite elasticity the Data-Driven formulation of geometrically linear elasticity presented in Conti, Müller, Ortiz, Arch.\ Ration.\ Mech.\ Anal.\ 229, 79-123, 2018. The main focus of this paper concerns the formulation of a suitable framework in which the Data-Driven problem of finite elasticity is well-posed in the sense of existence of solutions. We confine attention to deformation gradients $F \in L^p(Ω;\mathbb{R}^{n\times n})$ and first Piola-Kirchhoff stresses $P \in L^q(Ω;\mathbb{R}^{n\times n})$, with $(p,q)\in(1,\infty)$ and $1/p+1/q=1$. We assume that the material behavior is described by means of a material data set containing all the states $(F,P)$ that can be attained by the material, and develop germane notions of coercivity and closedness of the material data set. Within this framework, we put forth conditions ensuring the existence of solutions. We exhibit specific examples of two- and three-dimensional material data sets that fit the present setting and are compatible with material frame indifference.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Geometry of martensite needles in shape memory alloys

We study the geometry of needle-shaped domains in shape-memory alloys. Needle-shaped domains are ubiquitously found in martensites around macroscopic interfaces between regions which are laminated in different directions, or close to macroscopic austenite/twinned-martensite interfaces. Their geometry results from the interplay of the local nonconvexity of the effective energy density with long-range (linear) interactions mediated by the elastic strain field, and is up to now poorly understood. We present a two-dimensional shape optimization model based on finite elasticity and discuss its numerical solution. Our results indicate that the tapering profile of the needles can be understood within finite elasticity, but not with linearized elasticity. The resulting tapering and bending reproduce the main features of experimental observations on NiAl.

physics.comp-ph↗
arXiv2019

Symmetric div-quasiconvexity and the relaxation of static problems

We consider problems of static equilibrium in which the primary unknown is the stress field and the solutions maximize a complementary energy subject to equilibrium constraints. A necessary and sufficient condition for the sequential lower-semicontinuity of such functionals is symmetric ${\rm div}$-quasiconvexity, a special case of Fonseca and Müller's $A$-quasiconvexity with $A = {\rm div}$ acting on $R^{n\times n}_{sym}$. We specifically consider the example of the static problem of plastic limit analysis and seek to characterize its relaxation in the non-standard case of a non-convex elastic domain. We show that the symmetric ${\rm div}$-quasiconvex envelope of the elastic domain can be characterized explicitly for isotropic materials whose elastic domain depends on pressure $p$ and Mises effective shear stress $q$. The envelope then follows from a rank-$2$ hull construction in the $(p,q)$-plane. Remarkably, owing to the equilibrium constraint the relaxed elastic domain can still be strongly non-convex, which shows that convexity of the elastic domain is not a requirement for existence in plasticity.

math.AP↗
arXiv2018

A note on the Hausdorff dimension of the singular set of solutions to elasticity type systems

We prove partial regularity for minimizers to elasticity type energies in the nonlinear framework {with $p$-growth, $p>1$,} in dimension $n\geq 3$. It is an open problem in such a setting either to establish full regularity or to provide counterexamples. In particular, we give an estimate on the Hausdorff dimension of the potential singular set by proving that is strictly less than {$n-(p^*\wedge 2)$, and actually $n-2$ in the autonomous case} (full regularity is well-known in dimension $2$). The latter result is instrumental to establish existence for the strong formulation of Griffith type models in brittle fracture with nonlinear constitutive relations, accounting for damage and plasticity in space dimensions $2$ and $3$.

math.AP↗
arXiv2018

A branched transport limit of the Ginzburg-Landau functional

We study the Ginzburg-Landau model of type-I superconductors in the regime of small external magnetic fields. We show that, in an appropriate asymptotic regime, flux patterns are described by a simplified branched transportation functional. We derive the simplified functional from the full Ginzburg-Landau model rigorously via $Γ$-convergence. The detailed analysis of the limiting procedure and the study of the limiting functional lead to a precise understanding of the multiple scales contained in the model.

math.AP↗
arXiv2018

Approximation of fracture energies with $p$-growth via piecewise affine finite elements

The modeling of fracture problems within geometrically linear elasticity is often based on the space of generalized functions of bounded deformation $GSBD^p(Ω)$, $p\in(1,\infty)$, their treatment is however hindered by the very low regularity of those functions and by the lack of appropriate density results. We construct here an approximation of $GSBD^p$ functions, for $p\in(1,\infty)$, with functions which are Lipschitz continuous away from a jump set which is a finite union of closed subsets of $C^1$ hypersurfaces. The strains of the approximating functions converge strongly in $L^p$ to the strain of the target, and the area of their jump sets converge to the area of the target. The key idea is to use piecewise affine functions on a suitable grid, which is obtained via the Freudhental partition of a cubic grid.

math.AP↗
arXiv2017

Homogenization in magnetic-shape-memory polymer composites

Magnetic-shape-memory materials (e.g. specific NiMnGa alloys) react with a large change of shape to the presence of an external magnetic field. As an alternative for the difficult to manifacture single crystal of these alloys we study composite materials in which small magnetic-shape-memory particles are embedded in a polymer matrix. The macroscopic properties of the composite depend strongly on the geometry of the microstructure and on the characteristics of the particles and the polymer. We present a variational model based on micromagnetism and elasticity, and derive via homogenization an effective macroscopic model under the assumption that the microstructure is periodic. We then study numerically the resulting cell problem, and discuss the effect of the microstructure on the macroscopic material behavior. Our results may be used to optimize the shape of the particles and the microstructure.

math.AP↗
arXiv2017

Approximation of a Brittle Fracture Energy with a Constraint of Non-Interpenetration

Linear fracture mechanics (or at least the initiation part of that theory) can be framed in a variational context as a minimization problem over a SBD type space. The corresponding functional can in turn be approximated in the sense of $Γ$-convergence by a sequence of functionals involving a phase field as well as the displacement field. We show that a similar approximation persists if additionally imposing a non-interpenetration constraint in the minimization, namely that only nonnegative normal jumps should be permissible. 2010 Mathematics subject classification: 26A45

math.NA↗
arXiv2017

Data driven problems in elasticity

We consider a new class of problems in elasticity, referred to as Data-Driven problems, defined on the space of strain-stress field pairs, or phase space. The problem consists of minimizing the distance between a given material data set and the subspace of compatible strain fields and stress fields in equilibrium. We find that the classical solutions are recovered in the case of linear elasticity. We identify conditions for convergence of Data-Driven solutions corresponding to sequences of ap- proximating material data sets. Specialization to constant material data set sequences in turn establishes an appropriate notion of relaxation. We find that relaxation within this Data-Driven framework is fundamentally different from the classical relaxation of energy functions. For instance, we show that in the Data-Driven framework the relaxation of a bistable material leads to material data sets that are not graphs.

math.AP↗
arXiv2017

Existence of strong minimizers for the Griffith static fracture model in dimension two

We consider the Griffith fracture model in two spatial dimensions, and prove existence of strong minimizers, with closed jump set and continuously differentiable deformation fields. One key ingredient, which is the object of the present paper, is a generalization of the decay estimate by De Giorgi, Carriero, and Leaci to the vectorial situation. This is based on replacing the coarea formula by a method to approximate $SBD^p$ functions with small jump set by Sobolev functions and is restricted to two dimensions. The other two ingredients are contained in companion papers and consist respectively in regularity results for vectorial elliptic problems of the elasticity type and in a method to approximate in energy $GSBD^p$ functions by $SBV^p$ ones.

math.AP↗