Evaluation of theoretical strength of porous materials according to catastrophe theory

Abstract

With the rapid development of modern science, in particular, applied mechanics, the catastrophe theory proved to be quite effective in the analysis of classical results and the development of modern ones. This theory has developed significantly in the study of a number of issues in the theory of elastic stability, which studies the response of elastic bodies and structures to existing mechanical loads. Catastrophe theory predictions have important technical applications for estimating the critical forces that initiate the loss of stability of elastic bodies and engineering structures. The main basics of the research are analysed in this paper; based on the catastrophe theory, the problems are set; the main types of catastrophes’ functions are described; and the simplest of them, in particular the fold catastrophe, is applied. Based on the set analytical relations for the calculations of effective electrical conductivities and elastic modules by the pore concentration of the electrically conductive material, the estimation of the element strength of the composite sample is simulated in the form of a rod.