Butterworth-Heinemann Introduction to Continuum Mechanics

As a primary branch of physical mechanics, continuum mechanics deals with forces and behaviours that are continuous throughout a material or system, be it solid or fluid. It includes such behaviors as stress, strain, kinematics, elasticity, and plasticity. Without a thorough understanding of continuum mechancs, virtually all advanced mechanical engineering would be impossible. This classic text by noted educators, W. Michael Lai, David Rubin and Erhard Krempl, has been used for over 30 years to introduce continuum mechanics from the upper undergraduate to graduate level. It begins with a thorough yet highly accessible grounding in the underyling princples: tensor analysis and kinematics. The text presumes prior knowledge of basic differential and integral calculus, but no more. The book goes on to provide examples of everyday applications of continuum methods to such classic problems as loading and deformation of solids as well as stress response in both Newtonian viscous and Non-Newtonian fluids. This new edition offers improvements to address evolving teaching methods, with greater flexibility for either one or two-semeseter usage, including more enhanced coverage of elasticity, and improved problem sets and more real-world applications. It is, and will remain, one of the most accessible textbooks on a perennially challenging engineering subject. Significantly expanded coverage of elasticity in Chapter 5, including solutions of some 3-D problems based on the fundamental potential functions approach. New section at the end of Chapter 4 devoted to the integral formulation of the field equations Seven new appendices appear at the end of the relevant chapters to help make each chapter more self-contained Expanded and improved problem sets providing both intellectual challenges and engineering applications