Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 July 2010
Summary
Nonlinear continuum mechanics is one of the fundamental subjects that form the foundation of modern computational mechanics. The study of the motion and behavior of materials under different loading conditions requires understanding of basic, general, and nonlinear, kinematic and dynamic relationships that are covered in continuum mechanics courses. The finite element method, on the other hand, has emerged as a powerful tool for solving many problems in engineering and physics. The finite element method became a popular and widely used computational approach because of its versatility and generality in solving large-scale and complex physics and engineering problems. Nonetheless, the success of using the continuum-mechanics-based finite element method in the analysis of the motion of bodies that experience general displacements, including arbitrary large rotations, has been limited. The solution to this problem requires resorting to some of the basic concepts in continuum mechanics and putting the emphasis on developing sound formulations that satisfy the principles of mechanics. Some researchers, however, have tried to solve fundamental formulation problems using numerical techniques that lead to approximations. Although numerical methods are an integral part of modern computational algorithms and can be effectively used in some applications to obtain efficient and accurate solutions, it is the opinion of many researchers that numerical methods should only be used as a last resort to fix formulation problems. Sound formulations must be first developed and tested to make sure that these formulations satisfy the basic principles of mechanics.
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- Computational Continuum Mechanics , pp. ix - xiiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008