The Geometrical Language Of Continuum Mechanics

Epstein presents the fundamental concepts of modern differential geometry within the framework of continuum mechanics. Divided into three parts of roughly equal length, the book opens with a motivational chapter to impress upon the reader that differential geometry is indeed the natural language of continuum mechanics or, better still, that the latter is a prime example of the application and materialisation of the former. In the second part, the fundamental notions of differential geometry are presented with rigor using a writing style that is as informal as possible. Differentiable manifolds, tangent bundles, exterior derivatives, Lie derivatives, and Lie groups are illustrated in terms of their mechanical interpretations. The third part includes the theory of fiber bundles, G-structures, and groupoids, which are applicable to bodies with internal structure and to the description of material inhomogeneity. The abstract notions of differential geometry are thus illuminated by practical and intuitively meaningful engineering applications.

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.

This book illustrates the deep roots of the geometrically nonlinear kinematics of generalized continuum mechanics in differential geometry. Besides applications to first- order elasticity and elasto-plasticity an appreciation thereof is particularly illuminating for generalized models of continuum mechanics such as second-order (gradient-type) elasticity and elasto-plasticity. After a motivation that arises from considering geometrically linear first- and second- order crystal plasticity in Part I several concepts from differential geometry, relevant for what follows, such as connection, parallel transport, torsion, curvature, and metric for holonomic and anholonomic coordinate transformations are reiterated in Part II. Then, in Part III, the kinematics of geometrically nonlinear continuum mechanics are considered. There various concepts of differential geometry, in particular aspects related to compatibility, are generically applied to the kinematics of first- and second- order geometrically nonlinear continuum mechanics. Together with the discussion on the integrability conditions for the distortions and double-distortions, the concepts of dislocation, disclination and point-defect density tensors are introduced. For concreteness, after touching on nonlinear fir st- and second-order elasticity, a detailed discussion of the kinematics of (multiplicative) first- and second-order elasto-plasticity is given. The discussion naturally culminates in a comprehensive set of different types of dislocation, disclination and point-defect density tensors. It is argued, that these can potentially be used to model densities of geometrically necessary defects and the accompanying hardening in crystalline materials. Eventually Part IV summarizes the above findings on integrability whereby distinction is made between the straightforward conditions for the distortion and the double-distortion being integrable and the more involved conditions for the strain (metric) and the double-strain (connection) being integrable. The book addresses readers with an interest in continuum modelling of solids from engineering and the sciences alike, whereby a sound knowledge of tensor calculus and continuum mechanics is required as a prerequisite.

This monograph presents the geometric foundations of continuum mechanics. An emphasis is placed on increasing the generality and elegance of the theory by scrutinizing the relationship between the physical aspects and the mathematical notions used in its formulation. The theory of uniform fluxes in affine spaces is covered first, followed by the smooth theory on differentiable manifolds, and ends with the non-smooth global theory. Because continuum mechanics provides the theoretical foundations for disciplines like fluid dynamics and stress analysis, the author’s extension of the theory will enable researchers to better describe the mechanics of modern materials and biological tissues. The global approach to continuum mechanics also enables the formulation and solutions of practical optimization problems. Foundations of Geometric Continuum Mechanics will be an invaluable resource for researchers in the area, particularly mathematicians, physicists, and engineers interested in the foundational notions of continuum mechanics.

This book provides definitions and mathematical derivations of fundamental relationships of tensor analysis encountered in nonlinear continuum mechanics and continuum physics, with a focus on finite deformation kinematics and classical differential geometry. Of particular interest are anholonomic aspects arising from a multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient into two terms, neither of which in isolation necessarily obeys the integrability conditions satisfied by the gradient of a smooth vector field. The concise format emphasizes clarity and ease of reference, and detailed step-by-step derivations of most analytical results are provided. Contents: IntroductionGeometric FundamentalsKinematics of Integrable DeformationGeometry of Anholonomic DeformationKinematics of Anholonomic DeformationList of SymbolsBibliographyIndex Readership: Researchers in mathematical physics and engineering mechanics. Key Features:Presentation of mathematical operations and examples in anholonomic space associated with a multiplicative decomposition (e.g., of the gradient of motion) is more general and comprehensive than any given elsewhere and contains original ideas and new resultsLine-by-line derivations are frequent and exhaustive, to facilitate practice and enable verification of final resultsGeneral analysis is given in generic curvilinear coordinates; particular sections deal with applications and examples in Cartesian, cylindrical, spherical, and convected coordinates. Indicial and direct notations of tensor calculus enable connections with historic and modern literature, respectivelyKeywords:Differential Geometry;Tensor Analysis;Continuum Mechanics;Kinematics;Deformation;Anholonomic Coordinates

This monograph provides a systematic treatment of differential geometry in modeling of incompatible fiite deformations in solids. Included are discussions of generalized deformations and stress measures on smooth manifolds, geometrical formalization

This book examines the exciting interface between differential geometry and continuum mechanics, now recognised as being of increasing technological significance. Topics discussed include isometric embeddings in differential geometry and the relation with microstructure in nonlinear elasticity, the use of manifolds in the description of microstructure in continuum mechanics, experimental measurement of microstructure, defects, dislocations, surface energies, and nematic liquid crystals. Compensated compactness in partial differential equations is also treated. The volume is intended for specialists and non-specialists in pure and applied geometry, continuum mechanics, theoretical physics, materials and engineering sciences, and partial differential equations. It will also be of interest to postdoctoral scientists and advanced postgraduate research students. These proceedings include revised written versions of the majority of papers presented by leading experts at the ICMS Edinburgh Workshop on Differential Geometry and Continuum Mechanics held in June 2013. All papers have been peer reviewed.