Aspects of interface elasticity theory

Interfaces significantly influence the overall material response especially when the area-to-volume ratio is large, for instance in nanocrystalline solids. A well-established and frequently applied framework suitable for modeling interfaces dates back to the pioneering work by Gurtin and Murdoch on surface elasticity theory and its generalization to interface elasticity theory. In this contribution, interface elasticity theory is revisited and different aspects of this theory are carefully examined. Two alternative formulations based on stress vectors and stress tensors are given to unify various existing approaches in this context. Focus is on the hyper-elastic mechanical behavior of such interfaces. Interface elasticity theory at finite deformation is critically reanalyzed and several subtle conclusions are highlighted. Finally, a consistent linearized interface elasticity theory is established. We propose an energetically consistent interface linear elasticity theory together with its appropriate stress measures.