Nonlinear Elasticity
461
On
the asymmetric path we can regard
X
as
a
function of
t1
through
(107); note that
E,,
=
E,
when t'
=
t:.
On
use of (107) we then
obtain
(119)
d
1
-(&,
-
E,)
=
-(AT
-
A-3)2
5
0.
dt
1
This shows that on
a
stable (asymmetric) path of deformation with
t'
increasing from
ta
the energy is less than on the corresponding
symmetric path. Thus, the asymmetric path provides the (global)
energy-minimising solution. In particular, near
t'
=
t:,
we have
7
(120)
where
7
is given by (110). If
7
>
0
the asymmetric solution is stable
and branches to the right, while
if
11
<
0
it is unstable and branches
to the left (Figure 2). In the latter case the symmetric path provides
the energy minimiser.
To
be more explicit, if we take
m
=
2 in (113) then
7
>
0,
1
2
t'
=
-p(A
+
A-'),
and (118) reduces to
(
122)
1
P
E,,
-
E,
=
--(p
-
t')2.
For
rn
=
2 the strain-energy function (112) is called the
neo-Hookeun
strain-energy function and this provides
a
model for the behaviour
of rubber-like solids at moderate deformations.
For further discussion of this and related problems we refer to,
for example, [3,10,14,15,16,19].
Clearly, the degree of non-uniqueness in the relation between
tf
and
A;,
as reflected in that between
S
and
A
will have implications
for the solution of inore general boundary-value problems than the
homogeneous dead-load problem discussed in this section. Reference
to other problems in which non-uniqueness is evident
can
be found
in, for example,
[6,14].
In
Section
5,
we consider one further ex-
ample of the onset of bifurcation from
a
homogeneously-deformed
configuration.