Step-by-Step Simplification of the Micropolar Elasticity Theory to the Couple-Stress and Classical Elasticity Theories

The micropolar elasticity theory provides a useful material model for dealing with fibrous, coarse granular, and large molecule materials. Though being a well-known and well-developed elasticity model, the linear theory of micropolar elasticity is not without controversy. Specially simplification of the microppolar elasticity theory to the couple-stress and classical elasticity theories and the required conditions on the material elastic constants for this simplification have not been discussed consistently. In this paper the linear theory of micropolar elasticity is reviewed first. Then the correct approach for a consistent and step-by-step simplification of the micropolar elasticity model with six elastic constants to the couple-stress elasticity model with four elastic constants and the classical elasticity model with two elastic constants is presented. It is shown that the classical elasticity is a special case of the couple-stress theory which itself is a special case of the micropolar elasticity theory.