Stress

class Stress(configuration, fix_strain=None)

Class for calculating the stress of a configuration.

Parameters:

  • configuration (BulkConfiguration) – Configuration with a calculator that supports stress calculations.

  • fix_strain (FixStrain | None) – Additional constraint parameter.
    Default: None

evaluate()
Returns:

The stress for the given configuration. The shape of the stress tensor is (3,3).

Return type:

PhysicalQuantity with the unit eV * Angstrom**-3

metatext()
Returns:

The metatext of the object or None if no metatext is present.

Return type:

str | None

nlprint(stream=None)

Print a string containing an ASCII table useful for plotting the AnalysisSpin object.

Parameters:

stream (python stream) – The stream the table should be written to.
Default: NLPrintLogger()

setMetatext(metatext)

Set a given metatext string on the object.

Parameters:

metatext (str | None) – The metatext string that should be set. A value of “None” can be given to remove the current metatext.

uniqueString()

Return a unique string representing the state of the object.

Usage Examples

Calculate and print the stress tensor of a compressed GaAs crystal:

# Set up configuration
bulk_configuration = BulkConfiguration(
    bravais_lattice=FaceCenteredCubic(5.4*Angstrom),
    elements=[Gallium, Arsenic],
    cartesian_coordinates=[[ 0.      ,  0.      ,  0.      ],
                         [ 1.413425,  1.413425,  1.413425]]*Angstrom
    )

calculator = LCAOCalculator(
    numerical_accuracy_parameters=NumericalAccuracyParameters(
    k_point_sampling=(4, 4, 4))
    )

bulk_configuration.setCalculator(calculator)

#calculate the stress
stress = Stress(bulk_configuration)
nlprint(stress)

stress.py

Notes

Stress is given by the derivative of the total energy, \(E\), with respect to a strain \(\epsilon_{\alpha \beta}\),

\[\sigma_{\alpha \beta} = \frac{1}{V}\frac{dE}{d\epsilon_{\alpha \beta}}.\]

In this equation, \(V\), is the volume of the system and the strain tensor displaces positions by

\[R^\epsilon_\alpha = \sum_\beta(\delta_{\alpha \beta} + \epsilon_{\alpha \beta}) R_\beta.\]

Stress has unit energy per volume element, i.e. eV/Å 3.