Bridging methods for coupling atomistic and continuum models

Abstract

We review some recent developments in the coupling of atomistic and continuum models based on the blending of the two models in a bridge region connecting the other two regions in which the models are separately applied. We define four such models and subject them to patch and consistency tests. We also discuss important implementation issues such as: the enforcement of displacement continuity constraints in the bridge region; and how one defines, in two and three dimensions, the blending function that is a basic ingredient in the methods. © 2008 Springer.