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2 - Continuum Mechanics

from Part I - Continuum Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2025

Steven R. Pride
Affiliation:
University of California, Berkeley
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Summary

This chapter shows how to transition exactly from discrete molecular dynamics to the averaged continuum dynamics controlling the movement of the center of mass of large numbers of molecules. Discrete particle dynamics is described from the classical Newton–Maxwell perspective and from the quantum perspective with an emphasis on how quantum effects control the force interactions between molecules. Representing atoms using the Dirac delta function in three dimensions (a field) is introduced along with the volume-averaging theorem that defines the macroscopic gradient of volume-averaged fields. The continuum statements of the conservation of mass and momentum of large numbers of atoms are derived. It is shown that the forces causing the center of mass of a collection of molecules to move come entirely from molecules that lie outside the collection. In so doing, the stress tensor is obtained as sums over the molecular-force interactions and a sum over the thermal (random) kinetic energy of the molecules. Body forces are defined as the long-range force fields of electromagnetism and gravity acting on each collection of molecules.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Steven R. Pride, University of California, Berkeley
  • Book: An Introduction to Continuum Physics
  • Online publication: 06 February 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108951982.004
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  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Steven R. Pride, University of California, Berkeley
  • Book: An Introduction to Continuum Physics
  • Online publication: 06 February 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108951982.004
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Steven R. Pride, University of California, Berkeley
  • Book: An Introduction to Continuum Physics
  • Online publication: 06 February 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108951982.004
Available formats
×