This book presents a comparative study on the static responses of the Euler-Bernoulli beam governed by nonlocal theories, including the Eringen’s stress-gradient beam theory, the Mindlin’s strain-gradient beam theory, the higher-order beam theory and the peridynamic beam theory. Benchmark examples are solved analytically and numerically using these nonlocal beam equations, including the simply-supported beam, the clamped-clamped beam and the cantilever beam. Results show that beam deformations governed by different nonlocal theories at different boundary conditions show complex behaviors. Specifically, the Eringen’s stress-gradient beam equation and the peridynamic beam equation yield a much softer beam deformation for simply-supported beam and clamped-clamped beam, while the beam governed by the Mindlin’s strain-gradient beam equation is much stiffer. The cantilever beam exhibits a completely different behavior. The higher-order beam equation can be stiffer or softer depending on the values of the two nonlocal parameters. Moreover, the deformation fluctuation of the truncated order peridynamic beam equation is observed and explained from the singularity aspect of the solution expression. This research casts light on the fundamental explanation of nonlocal beam theories in nano-electromechanical systems.

Elastodynamics, Volume II: Linear Theory is a continuation of Volume I and discusses the dynamical theory of linear isotropic elasticity. The volume deals with the fundamental theorems regarding elastodynamics and the different mathematical methods of solution and their employment in one, two, and three dimensions. The text outlines the fundamentals of linear elastodynamics and explains basic equations, displacement formulation, stress formulation, and the uniqueness theorem of elastodynamics. The book also investigates elastodynamic problems involving one-space dimension in governing boundaries, equations, and initial conditions. The book then compares two-dimensional problems as being subject to more precise mathematical analysis compared to three-dimensional situations by using scalar wave equations. The text then analyzes elastodynamic problems in three space dimensions when the solution depends on the condition of separability of the vector wave equation and the satisfaction of the boundary conditions. The diffraction of elastic waves is also described using two approaches: the integral equation method or the Eigen function technique. The book can prove valuable to researchers and practitioners whose work involves advanced statistics, general physics, and thermodynamics.

Nonlocal continuum field theories are concerned with material bodies whose behavior at any interior point depends on the state of all other points in the body -- rather than only on an effective field resulting from these points -- in addition to its own state and the state of some calculable external field. Nonlocal field theory extends classical field theory by describing the responses of points within the medium by functionals rather than functions (the "constitutive relations" of classical field theory). Such considerations are already well known in solid-state physics, where the nonlocal interactions between the atoms are prevalent in determining the properties of the material. The tools developed for crystalline materials, however, do not lend themselves to analyzing amorphous materials, or materials in which imperfections are a major part of the structure. Nonlocal continuum theories, by contrast, can describe these materials faithfully at scales down to the lattice parameter. This book presents a unified approach to field theories for elastic solids, viscous fluids, and heat-conducting electromagnetic solids and fluids that include nonlocal effects in both space and time (memory effects). The solutions to the field equations agree remarkably well with atomic theories and experimental observations.

Serving as a review on non-local mechanics, this book provides an introduction to non-local elasticity theory for static, dynamic and stability analysis in a wide range of nanostructures. The authors draw on their own research experience to present fundamental and complex theories that are relevant across a wide range of nanomechanical systems, from the fundamentals of non-local mechanics to the latest research applications.

A large part of the research currently being conducted in the fields of materials science and engineering mechanics is devoted to carbon nanotubes and their applications. In this process, modeling is a very attractive investigation tool due to the difficulties in manufacturing and testing of nanomaterials. Continuum modeling offers significant advantages over atomistic modeling. Furthermore, the lack of accuracy in continuum methods can be overtaken by incorporating input data either from experiments or atomistic methods. This book reviews the recent progress in continuum modeling of carbon nanotubes and their composites. The advantages and disadvantages of continuum methods over atomistic methods are comprehensively discussed. Numerical models, mainly based on the finite element method, as well as analytical models are presented in a comparative way starting from the simulation of isolated pristine and defected nanotubes and proceeding to nanotube-based composites. The ability of continuum methods to bridge different scales is emphasized. Recommendations for future research are given by focusing on what still continuum methods have to learn from the nano-scale. The scope of the book is to provide current knowledge aiming to support researchers entering the scientific area of carbon nanotubes to choose the appropriate modeling tool for accomplishing their study and place their efforts to further improve continuum methods.

From an authoritative expert whose work on modern helicopter rotor blade analysis has spanned over three decades, comes the first consistent and rigorous presentation of beam theory. Beginning with an overview of the theory developed over the last 60 years, Dr. Hodges addresses the kinematics of beam deformation, provides a simple way to characterize strain in an initially curved and twisted beam, and offers cross-sectional analysis for beams with arbitrary cross sections and composed of arbitrary materials. He goes on to present a way to accurately recover all components of cross-sectional strain and stress before providing a natural one-dimensional (1-D) theory of beams. Sample results for both cross-sectional and 1-D analysis are presented as is a parallel treatment for thin-walled beams.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 2012 International Conference on Applied Mechanics and Materials (ICAMM 2012), November 24-25, 2012, Sanya, China