On the deformation of porous spherical bodies under radial surface traction

The paper deals with the linear theory of elastic materials with voids based on the concept of volume fraction. In this model, the interstitial pores are vacuous and can contract or stretch. The change in the volume fraction is measured by a scalar function, so that independent kinematical variables are four: the components of displacements and the volume fraction function. The equilibrium problem of elastic spherical bodies under radial surface traction is solved. The solution is given in closed form and applied to study three special cases. Explicit formulas of the displacement, stress distribution and volume fraction function are given.