Foundations of Solid Mechanics

A major problem in continuum mechanics consists of predicting the deformations and internal forces arising in a material body subjected to a given set of external fields such as the forces of pure mechanical nature, temperature and electromagnetic fields. This Chapter summaries some of important definitions, relations, and methods commonly employed for the analysis of reformable media although, of course, many aspects of mechanical behavior are left unaccounted for in this approach and referring the unsatisfied reader to monographs in which a level of higher generality is adopted. However, it is hoped that sufficient details are given so that the reader can understand remainder Chapters without constant reference to other books.