A variant of the linear isotropic indeterminate couple stress model with symmetric local force-stress, symmetric nonlocal force-stress, symmetric couple-stresses and complete traction boundary conditions

Abstract: In this paper we venture a new look at the linear isotropic indeterminate couple stress model in the general framework of second gradient elasticity and we propose a new alternative formulation which obeys Cauchy-Boltzmann's axiom of the symmetry of the force stress tensor. For this model we prove the existence of solutions for the equilibrium problem. Relations with other gradient elastic theories and the possibility to switch from a {4th order} (gradient elastic) problem to a 2nd order micromorphic model are also discussed with a view of obtaining symmetric force-stress tensors. It is shown that the indeterminate couple stress model can be written entirely with symmetric force-stress and symmetric couple-stress. The difference of the alternative models rests in specifying traction boundary conditions of either rotational type or strain type. If rotational type boundary conditions are used in the partial integration, the classical anti-symmetric nonlocal force stress tensor formulation is obtained. Otherwise, the difference in both formulations is only a divergence--free second order stress field such that the field equations are the same, but the traction boundary conditions are different. For these results we employ a novel integrability condition, connecting the infinitesimal continuum rotation and the infinitesimal continuum strain. Moreover, we provide the complete, consistent traction boundary conditions for both models.