Birkhauser A Geometric Approach to Thermomechanics of Dissipating Continua: 31 (Progress in Mathematical Physics, 31)

Product Description This monograph focuses on the modeling of continua that exhibit the property of singularities in fields. A rational theory of continuum thermomechanics that takes into account the existence and distribution of scalar and vector discontinuities is presented. Guiding the work is the notion that discontinuities should be modeled by the torsion and curvature tensors (Cartan), thus forming an attractive alternative way of representing dissipating continua with singularities. Also emphasized in this study is the relationship between singularities and certain irreversible properties that occur in solid and fluid models. The required mathematical background is given in several appendices, although some basic understanding of differential geometry and tensor analysis would be helpful. The book is largely self-contained and should serve a readership of graduate students, researchers, and engineers in applied mathematics, mechanics, and physics. Review "In my opinion, the book is excellent: it is well structured, well focused on an interesting topic, and it is clearly developed. It combines mathematical rigor with deeply physical motivations, many of them of much current interest in material sciences or in the fundamentals of thermodynamics. The proposals of the author seem to be a worthwhile contribution to a mathematically sound and physically fruitful description of many intresting phenomena." - Zentralblatt MATH "By its very nature and subject matter the book will have a specialized audience.  To those happy few this unique book is warmly recommended as it will certainly initiate discussions and further extensions."(Mathematical Reviews, Maugin, Gérard A.)