Contributions to Mechanics presents a biographical survey of Professor Markus Reiner's life. This book is a manifestation of affection and esteem to Professor Reiner, expressed by various authors who eagerly contributed original works in the field of mechanics. Organized into five parts encompassing 26 chapters, this book begins with a biographical article of Professor Markus Reiner that includes a detailed account of his works. This text then explores the approach for the interpretation of certain features commonly accepted in quantum theory on the basis of its mathematical formalism. Other chapters present the concept of micropolar fluids and micropolar solids as special classes of micromorphic materials. This book discusses as well the general theory for the isotropic strain tensor. The final chapter deals with the anomalous phenomena of flow that play a significant role in the flow of most biological materials, such as serum, blood, and synovial fluid. Mechanical engineers and scientists will find this book useful.

This careful and detailed introduction to non-linear continuum mechanics and to elasticity and platicity, with a unique mathematical foundation, starts right from the basics. The general theory of mechanical behaviour is particularized for the broad and important classes of elasticity and plasticity. Brings the reader to the forefront of today's knowledge. A list of notations and an index help the reader finding specific topics.

The classical result for uniqueness in elasticity theory is due to Kirchhoff. It states that the standard mixed boundary value problem for a homogeneous isotropic linear elastic material in equilibrium and occupying a bounded three-dimensional region of space possesses at most one solution in the classical sense, provided the Lame and shear moduli, A and J1 respectively, obey the inequalities (3 A + 2 J1) > 0 and J1>O. In linear elastodynamics the analogous result, due to Neumann, is that the initial-mixed boundary value problem possesses at most one solution provided the elastic moduli satisfy the same set of inequalities as in Kirchhoffs theorem. Most standard textbooks on the linear theory of elasticity mention only these two classical criteria for uniqueness and neglect altogether the abundant literature which has appeared since the original publications of Kirchhoff. To remedy this deficiency it seems appropriate to attempt a coherent description ofthe various contributions made to the study of uniqueness in elasticity theory in the hope that such an exposition will provide a convenient access to the literature while at the same time indicating what progress has been made and what problems still await solution. Naturally, the continuing announcement of new results thwarts any attempt to provide a complete assessment. Apart from linear elasticity theory itself, there are several other areas where elastic uniqueness is significant.

The aim of the book is the presentation of the fundamental mathematical and physical concepts of continuum mechanics of solids in a unified description so as to bring young researchers rapidly close to their research area. Accordingly, emphasis is given to concepts of permanent interest, and details of minor importance are omitted. The formulation is achieved systematically in absolute tensor notation, which is almost exclusively used in modern literature. This mathematical tool is presented such that study of the book is possible without permanent reference to other works.

Common experience reveals two basic aspects of wave propagation. First, while preserving their identity and travelling at definite speeds, sounds finally die out. Second, weak sounds may combine to form strong noises. Theories of acoustic propagation have succeeded in representing these aspects of experience separately, but never combined as in nature. The classical theories of sound in perfect fluids and elastic solids easily yield common speeds of propagation for plane infinitesimal disturbances, but no damping. Moreover, within EULER'S theory of the perfect fluid, or its generalization, the GREEN-KIRCHHOFF-KELVIN theory of finite elasticity, weak waves may grow stronger and become shock waves, which propagate according to more complicated but equally definite principles. Effects of internal damping are easily added for theories of infinitesimal deformation, but for finite motions a dead end was reached about sixty years ago. Indeed, in 1901 DUHEM proved that according to the NAVIER-STOKES theory of fluids acceleration waves and waves of higher order cannot exist, and for shock waves he claimed a similar result, which has since been shown to be valid subject to certain qualifications. So as to save the phenomena of sound and noise, as was necessary if the NAVIER-STOKES theory was to deserve the place proposed for it as a refinement upon EULER'S theory, DUHEM introduced the concept of "quasi-wave", a region of rapid but continuous transition.