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.

This overview of the development of continuum mechanics throughout the twentieth century is unique and ambitious. Utilizing a historical perspective, it combines an exposition on the technical progress made in the field and a marked interest in the role played by remarkable individuals and scientific schools and institutions on a rapidly evolving social background. It underlines the newly raised technical questions and their answers, and the ongoing reflections on the bases of continuum mechanics associated, or in competition, with other branches of the physical sciences, including thermodynamics. The emphasis is placed on the development of a more realistic modeling of deformable solids and the exploitation of new mathematical tools. The book presents a balanced appraisal of advances made in various parts of the world. The author contributes his technical expertise, personal recollections, and international experience to this general overview, which is very informative albeit concise.

Continuum mechanics underlies many geological and geophysical phenomena, from earthquakes and faults to the fluid dynamics of the Earth. This interdisciplinary book provides geoscientists, physicists and applied mathematicians with a class-tested, accessible overview of continuum mechanics. Starting from thermodynamic principles and geometrical insights, the book surveys solid, fluid and gas dynamics. In later review chapters, it explores new aspects of the field emerging from nonlinearity and dynamical complexity and provides a brief introduction to computational modeling. Simple, yet rigorous, derivations are used to review the essential mathematics. The author emphasizes the full three-dimensional geometries of real-world examples, enabling students to apply this in deconstructing solid earth and planet-related problems. Problem sets and worked examples are provided, making this a practical resource for graduate students in geophysics, planetary physics and geology and a beneficial tool for professional scientists seeking a better understanding of the mathematics and physics within Earth sciences.

Written in response to the dearth of practical and meaningful textbooks in the field of fundamental continuum mechanics, this comprehensive treatment offers students and instructors an immensely useful tool. Its 115 solved problems and exercises not only provide essential practice but also systematically advance the understanding of vector and tensor theory, basic kinematics, balance laws, field equations, jump conditions, and constitutive equations. Readers follow clear, formally precise steps through the central ideas of classical and modern continuum mechanics, expressed in a common, efficient notation that fosters quick comprehension and renders these concepts familiar when they reappear in other contexts. Completion of this brief course results in a unified basis for work in fluid dynamics and the mechanics of solid materials, a foundation of particular value to students of mathematics and physics, those studying continuum mechanics at an intermediate or advanced level, and postgraduate students in the applied sciences. "Should be excellent in its intended function as a problem book to accompany a lecture course." — Quarterly of Applied Math.

This contributed volume provides an up-to-date overview of the mechanics of granular materials, ranging from sparse media to soils. With chapters exploring state-of-the-art theoretical, experimental, and applied trends in the study of granular matter in various states, readers will be motivated to learn about the current challenges and potential avenues of exploration in this active area of research. Including a variety of perspectives, this volume will be a valuable reference for audiences in a number of fields. Specific topics covered include: X-ray tomography techniques for analyzing sand Evaluation of effective stress in unsaturated soils Hyper-plasticity Wave propagation in granular systems Partly saturated porous media Multi-scale approaches to the dynamics of sparse media Views on Microstructures in Granular Materials is an ideal resource for PhD students and researchers in applied mathematics, solid-state physics, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering.

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.