Introduction

Mechanics is the oldest and the most highly developed branch of physics. As important foundation of engineering, its relevance continues to increase as its range of application grows. The tasks of mechanics include the description and determination of the motion of bodies, as well as the investigation of the forces associated with the motion. Technical examples of such motions are the rolling wheel of a vehicle, the flow of a fluid in a duct, the flight of an airplane and the orbit of a satellite.