Cosserat (micropolar) elasticity in Stroh form

The theory of defects in Cosserat continua is sketched out in strict analogy to the theory of line defects in anisotropic elasticity (Stroh theory). This rewrite of the second order equilibrium equations of elasticity in a 3-dimensional space as first order equations in a 6-dimensional space is analogous to replacing the Laplace equation by the Riemann-Cauchy equations. For generalized plane strain of anisotropic micropolar (Cosserat) elasticity one obtains a 14-dimensional coupled linear system of differential equations of first order and for plane strain of anisotropic micropolar (Cosserat) elasticity we obtain a 6-dimensional coupled linear system of differential equations of first order. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.