Progress In Continuum Mechanics

This book gives an insight into the current developments in the field of continuum mechanics. Twenty-five researchers present new theoretical concepts, e.g., better inclusion of the microstructure in the models describing material behavior. At the same time, there are also more applications for the theories in engineering practice. In addition to new theoretical approaches in continuum mechanics and applications, the book puts an emphasis on discussing multi-physics problems.

Continuum Mechanics is the foundation for Applied Mechanics. There are numerous books on Continuum Mechanics with the main focus on the macroscale mechanical behavior of materials. Unlike classical Continuum Mechanics books, this book summarizes the advances of Continuum Mechanics in several defined areas. Emphasis is placed on the application aspect. The applications described in the book cover energy materials and systems (fuel cell materials and electrodes), materials removal, and mechanical response/deformation of structural components including plates, pipelines etc. Researchers from different fields should be benefited from reading the mechanics approached to real engineering problems.

Recognized authors contributed to this collection of original papers from all fields of research in continuum mechanics. Special emphasis is given to time dependent and independent permanent deformations, damage and fracture. Part of the contributions is dedicated to current efforts in describing material behavior with regard to, e.g., anisotropy, thermal effects, softening, ductile and brittle fracture, porosity and granular structure. Another part deals with numerical aspects arising from the implementation of material laws in the calculations of forming processes, soil mechanics and structural mechanics. Applications of theory and numerical methods belong to the following areas: Comparison with experimental results from material testing, metal forming under thermal and dynamic conditions, failure by damage, fracture and localized deformation modes. The variety of treated topics provides a survery of the actual research in these fields; therefore, the book is addressed to those interested in special problems of continuum mechanics as well as to those interested in a general knowledge.

The papers included in this volume were presented at the Symposium on Advances in the Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Material Behavior, held as part of the 1999 Joint ASME Applied Mechanics and Materials Summer Conference at Virginia Tech on June 27-30, 1999. The Symposium was held in honor of Professor Roger L. Fosdick on his 60th birthday. The papers are written by prominent researchers in the fields of mechanics, thermodynamics, materials modeling, and applied mathematics. They address open questions and present the latest development in these and related areas. This volume is a valuable reference for researchers and graduate students in universities and research laboratories.

Modern Developments in the Mechanics of Continua presents the proceedings of the International Conference on Rheology, held in Pinebrook, New York, on August 23–27, 1965. This book promotes the national and international interest in mechanics of continua. Comprised of 16 chapters, this compilation of papers starts with an overview of the fundamental aspects of thermodynamics. This text then examines the divergence between the molecular theory of liquids and continuum mechanics. Other chapters explore the theory of the activation volume of liquids and the potential applications in rheology. This book discusses as well the characteristics of shear wave propagation, which are related to the viscoelastic properties of the supporting medium. The final chapter deals with the study of diffusion of benzoic acid at constant temperature into kaolinite slurries of changing concentrations. This book is a valuable resource for physicists, biophysicists, mathematicians, and engineers interested in the mechanics of continua.

Contemporary Developments in Continuum Mechanics and Partial Differential Equations

This contributed volume explores the applications of various topics in modern differential geometry to the foundations of continuum mechanics. In particular, the contributors use notions from areas such as global analysis, algebraic topology, and geometric measure theory. Chapter authors are experts in their respective areas, and provide important insights from the most recent research. Organized into two parts, the book first covers kinematics, forces, and stress theory, and then addresses defects, uniformity, and homogeneity. Specific topics covered include: Global stress and hyper-stress theories Applications of de Rham currents to singular dislocations Manifolds of mappings for continuum mechanics Kinematics of defects in solid crystals Geometric Continuum Mechanics will appeal to graduate students and researchers in the fields of mechanics, physics, and engineering who seek a more rigorous mathematical understanding of the area. Mathematicians interested in applications of analysis and geometry will also find the topics covered here of interest.