Cosserat Points

Abstract

A point-like structure, or Cosserat point, is a three-dimensional body that has special geometric features. Most importantly, the Cosserat point is a three-dimensional body that is considered to be “thin” in all three of its dimensions. Therefore, it is essentially a zerodimensional point surrounded by some finite but small region of material. Sometimes this region P* is bounded by a smooth closed surface ∂P*, while other times it is a polyhedron bounded by S planar surfaces ∂P_J* (J=1,2,...,S) (see Fig. 6.1.1). In all cases, the Cosserat point theory provides a simple continuum description of the motion and deformation of this small point-like structure.