Solid mechanics is the branch of physics and mathematics that concerns the behavior of solid matter under external actions (e.g., external forces, temperature changes, applied displacements, etc.). It is part of a broader study known as continuum mechanics.

A material has a rest shape and its shape departs away from the rest shape due to stress. The amount of departure from rest shape is called strain, the departure itself is called deformation. If the applied stress is sufficiently low (or the imposed strain is small enough), almost all solid materials behave in such a way that the strain is proportional to the stress by a coefficient: the Young's modulus.

History

Major topics

There are several standard models for how solid materials respond to stress:

1. Elastic (solid mechanics) – Linearly elastic materials can be described by the 3-dimensional elasticity equations. A spring obeying Hooke's law is a one-dimensional linear version of a general elastic body. By definition, when the stress is removed, elastic deformation is fully recovered.
2. Viscoelastic – a material that is elastic, but also has damping: on loading, as well as on unloading, some work has to be made against the damping effects. This work is converted in heat within the material.
3. Plastic – a material that, when the stress exceeds a threshold (yield stress), permanently changes its rest shape in response. The material commonly known as "plastic" is named after this property. Plastic deformation is not recovered on unloading.

One of the most common practical applications of Solid Mechanics is the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation.

Solid mechanics extensively uses tensors to describe stresses, strains, and the relationship between them.

Typically, solid mechanics uses linear models to relate stresses and strains (see linear elasticity). However, real materials often exhibit non-linear behavior.

For more specific definitions of stress, strain, and the relationship between them, please see strength of materials.

References

• L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz, Course of Theoretical Physics: Theory of Elasticity Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN 075062633X
• J.E. Marsden, T.J. Hughes, Mathematical Foundations of Elasticity, Dover, ISBN 0486678652
• P.C. Chou, N. J. Pagano, Elasticity: Tensor, Dyadic, and Engineering Approaches, Dover, ISBN 0486669580
• R.W. Ogden, Non-linear Elastic Deformation, Dover, ISBN 0486696480
• S. Timoshenko and J.N. Goodier," Theory of elasticity", 3d ed., New York, McGraw-Hill, 1970.
• A.I. Lurie, "Theory of Elasticity", Springer, 1999.
• L.B. Freund, "Dynamic Fracture Mechanics", Cambridge University Press, 1990.
• R. Hiil, "The Mathematical Theory of Plasticity", Oxford University, 1950.
• J. Lubliner, "Plasticity Theory", Macmillan Publishing Company, 1990.

See also

• Applied mechanics
• Viscosity
• Thermoplasticity

Continuum mechanics | Structural engineering

Mecánica de sólidos deformables | Déformation élastique | Теория упругости | elastomehanika | Hållfasthetslära | Cơ học vật rắn | 固体力学