Eigenstrain Without Stress and Static Shape Control of Structures

The present contribution explores two fundamental aspects of eigenstrain analysis in three-dimensional bodies. At first, distributions of eigenstrain are derived that do not cause stresses, so-called stress-free or impotent eigenstrains. We consider bodies of finite extent with geometric surface constraints, such as imposed by immovable supports or rigidly clamped boundaries. Within the setting of anisotropic linear elastic bodies, it is verified that a field of eigenstrains that is equal to the field of strains produced by external forces is a stress-free one and that the deformations caused by these eigenstrains and the deformations caused by the forces are equal. Hence, the stress-free eigenstrain load represents an exact solution for the static shape control problem of bodies acted upon by forces. Additionally, nonuniqueness of this shape control problem is demonstrated, and three-dimensional eigenstrains responsible for that nonuniqueness are identified. This is performed by showing that incompatible distributions of eigenstrain and the strains generated by these fields, when applied as a compatible distribution of eigenstrain, result in identical deformations and stresses. Deformation-free fields then result by applying the difference between those fields of eigenstrain.