Recommendations on modeling polyphase plasticity: conclusions of panel discussions

A workshop, sponsored by NATO, convened in Palm Springs, CA, May 17–21, 1993, to discuss strategies leading to a more quantitative understanding of polyphase plasticity. A panel recommended interdisciplinary investigations of carefully selected and characterized model systems which contain essential ingredients typical of composites. This requires collaboration between experimentalists and theoreticians and could benefit from close interaction of mechanicians, materials scientists and geologists. In comparison with single-phase materials, polyphase composites display mechanical and chemical heterogeneities at all scales, and are generally highly anisotropic, thus requiring consideration of geometry and topology, local equilibrium and compatibility.