Variational Incremental And Energy Methods In Solid Mechanics And Shell Theory

Variational, Incremental and Energy Methods in Solid Mechanics and Shell Theory

Studies in Applied Mechanics, 4: Variational, Incremental, and Energy Methods in Solid Mechanics and Shell Theory covers the subject of variational, incremental, and energy methods in Solid Mechanics and Shell Theory from a general standpoint, employing general coordinates and tensor notations. The publication first ponders on mathematical preliminaries, kinematics and stress in three-dimensional solid continua, and the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Discussions focus on the principles of virtual displacements and virtual forces, kinematics of rigid body motions, incremental stresses, kinematics of incremental deformation, description of motion, coordinates, reference and deformed states, tensor formulas for surfaces, and differentials and derivatives of operators. The text then elaborates on constitutive material laws, deformation and stress in shells, first law of thermodynamics applied to shells, and constitutive relations and material laws for shells. Concerns cover hyperelastic incremental material relations, material laws for thin elastic shells, incremental theory and stability, reduced and local forms of the first law of thermodynamics, and description of deformation and motion in shells. The book examines elastic stability, finite element models, variational and incremental principles, variational principles of elasticity and shell theory, and constitutive relations and material laws for shells. The publication is a valuable reference for researchers interested in the variational, incremental, and energy methods in solid mechanics and shell theory.

Variational, Incremental, and Energy Methods in Solid Mechanics and Shell Theory

Mechanics of Solids and Shells

As the theories and methods have evolved over the years, the mechanics of solid bodies has become unduly fragmented. Most books focus on specific aspects, such as the theories of elasticity or plasticity, the theories of shells, or the mechanics of materials. While a narrow focus serves immediate purposes, much is achieved by establishing the common foundations and providing a unified perspective of the discipline as a whole. Mechanics of Solids and Shells accomplishes these objectives. By emphasizing the underlying assumptions and the approximations that lead to the mathematical formulations, it offers a practical, unified presentation of the foundations of the mechanics of solids, the behavior of deformable bodies and thin shells, and the properties of finite elements. The initial chapters present the fundamental kinematics, dynamics, energetics, and behavior of materials that build the foundation for all of the subsequent developments. These are presented in full generality without the usual restrictions on the deformation. The general principles of work and energy form the basis for the consistent theories of shells and the approximations by finite elements. The final chapter views the latter as a means of approximation and builds a bridge between the mechanics of the continuum and the discrete assembly. Expressly written for engineers, Mechanics of Solids and Shells forms a reliable source for the tools of analysis and approximation. Its constructive presentation clearly reveals the origins, assumptions, and limitations of the methods described and provides a firm, practical basis for the use of those methods.