Mathematical Foundations Of Elasticity

Graduate-level study approaches mathematical foundations of three-dimensional elasticity using modern differential geometry and functional analysis. It presents a classical subject in a modern setting, with examples of newer mathematical contributions. 1983 edition.

Although there are several books in print dealing with elasticity, many focus on specialized topics such as mathematical foundations, anisotropic materials, two-dimensional problems, thermoelasticity, non-linear theory, etc. As such they are not appropriate candidates for a general textbook. This book provides a concise and organized presentation and development of general theory of elasticity. This text is an excellent book teaching guide. Contains exercises for student engagement as well as the integration and use of MATLAB Software Provides development of common solution methodologies and a systematic review of analytical solutions useful in applications of

Elasticity theory is a classical discipline. The mathematical theory of elasticity in mechanics, especially the linearized theory, is quite mature, and is one of the foundations of several engineering sciences. In the last twenty years, there has been significant progress in several areas closely related to this classical field, this applies in particular to the following two areas. First, progress has been made in numerical methods, especially the development of the finite element method. The finite element method, which was independently created and developed in different ways by sci entists both in China and in the West, is a kind of systematic and modern numerical method for solving partial differential equations, especially el liptic equations. Experience has shown that the finite element method is efficient enough to solve problems in an extremely wide range of applica tions of elastic mechanics. In particular, the finite element method is very suitable for highly complicated problems. One of the authors (Feng) of this book had the good fortune to participate in the work of creating and establishing the theoretical basis of the finite element method. He thought in the early sixties that the method could be used to solve computational problems of solid mechanics by computers. Later practice justified and still continues to justify this point of view. The authors believe that it is now time to include the finite element method as an important part of the content of a textbook of modern elastic mechanics.

Classic in the field covers application of theory of finite elasticity to solution of boundary-value problems, analysis of mechanical properties of solid materials capable of large elastic deformations. Problems. References.

This book provides the general reader with an introduction to mathematical elasticity, by means of general concepts in classic mechanics, and models for elastic springs, strings, rods, beams and membranes. Functional analysis is also used to explore more general boundary value problems for three-dimensional elastic bodies, where the reader is provided, for each problem considered, a description of the deformation; the equilibrium in terms of stresses; the constitutive equation; the equilibrium equation in terms of displacements; formulation of boundary value problems; and variational principles, generalized solutions and conditions for solvability.Introduction to Mathematical Elasticity will also be of essential reference to engineers specializing in elasticity, and to mathematicians working on abstract formulations of the related boundary value problems.

The classical theory of elasticity maintains a place of honour in the science ofthe behaviour ofsolids. Its basic definitions are general for all branches of this science, whilst the methods forstating and solving these problems serve as examples of its application. The theories of plasticity, creep, viscoelas ticity, and failure of solids do not adequately encompass the significance of the methods of the theory of elasticity for substantiating approaches for the calculation of stresses in structures and machines. These approaches constitute essential contributions in the sciences of material resistance and structural mechanics. The first two chapters form Part I of this book and are devoted to the basic definitions ofcontinuum mechanics; namely stress tensors (Chapter 1) and strain tensors (Chapter 2). The necessity to distinguish between initial and actual states in the nonlinear theory does not allow one to be content with considering a single strain measure. For this reason, it is expedient to introduce more rigorous tensors to describe the stress-strain state. These are considered in Section 1.3 for which the study of Sections 2.3-2.5 should precede. The mastering of the content of these sections can be postponed until the nonlinear theory is studied in Chapters 8 and 9.

In this volume, five papers are collected that give a good sample of the problems and the results characterizing some recent trends and advances in this theory. Some of them are devoted to the improvement of a general abstract knowledge of the behavior of elastic bodies, while the others mainly deal with more applicative topics.