Continuum mechanics
Summary
Continuum conservation laws (e.g. mass, momentum and energy) will be introduced. Mathematical tools, including basic algebra and calculus of vectors and Cartesian tensors will be taught. Stress and deformation tensors will be applied to examples drawn from linear elastic solid mechanics.
Content
We begin with a detailed review of objectivity. An overview of known conservation laws, written for continua, is used to motivate the development of the stress tensor. Mathematical review of linear algebra and calculus applied to tensors, including the introduction of indicial notation as a shorthand. Kinematics of deformation and flow follow. Applications arising in Hookean elasticity complete our introduction to continuum mechanics.
Keywords
Kinematics, Dynamics, Solid, Fluid
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
- Linear algebra
- Mechanics of structures I
- Mechanics of structures II
- Analysis III
- Analysis IV
Recommended courses
Important concepts to start the course
- A valid theory must be objective. We define an observer, and discuss objectivity in detail.
- All the same conservation laws introduced in prior coursework must be derived for continua. We provide these derivations by illustration.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Model and analytically solve problems of statics, structural stress analysis or simple mechanisms, S1
Transversal skills
- Assess one's own level of skill acquisition, and plan their on-going learning goals.
Teaching methods
Ex cathedra lectures and exercise sessions
Assessment methods
Two written tests during the semester with 55% and 45% contributions to the final grade
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | No |
Resources
Bibliography
John Botsis & Michel Deville, Mécanique des milieux continus: une introduction, Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2006.
Barenblatt, G. I. Flow Deformation and Fracture. Cambridge, 2014.
Lai, Rubin and Krempl An Introduction to Continuum Mechanics. Amsterdam, 2010.
Ressources en bibliothèque
Prerequisite for
- incompressible fluid mechanics
- solid mechanics
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Continuum mechanics
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks