The static behavior of a nonlinear axial chain under distributed loading is examined.
Exact analytical solutions based on Hurwitz zeta functions are presented.
The nonlinear lattice possesses scale effects and possible localization properties in the absence of energy convexity.
A nonlinear continuum elasticity model is developed to capture the main phenomena observed regarding the discrete axial problem.
This associated continuum is an enriched gradient-based or nonlocal axial medium.