Continuum mechanics

0. Introduction and motivation

Ales Janka
oce Math 0.107
ales.janka@unifr.ch
http://perso.unifr.ch/ales.janka/mechanics
September 22, 2010, Universite de Fribourg
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
What is Continuum mechanics?
Continuum mechanics = domain of physics and engineering describing:
elasticity and plasticity of solids and
dynamics of uids (liquids or gases).
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
What is a continuum?
A continuum = a physical object with mass which can be mapped
onto points of a subdomain IR
3
. Mass distribution in is
supposed to be continuous:
for any subdomain , the mass m

of is calculated by
m

dm
and small changes in the size of produce small changes in m

.
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
What is a continuum?
Modeling objects as continua neglects atomic, molecular and
crystal structure of mass.
The continuum approach is nevertheless a good approximation on
length scales much greater than the molecular scale.
What does continuum mechanics do?
Applies fundamental physical laws (conservation of mass,
momentum and energy, force equilibrium . . . ) to continua to
derive dierential equations describing their behavior.
Information about the particular material of the continua is added
through an empiric constitutive relation / law.
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in engineering: crash-tests
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in engineering: crash-tests
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in engineering: crash-tests
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in engineering: aeronautics
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in engineering: aeronautics
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. weather forecasts
Meteosuisse forecast for Sep 22, 2010, temperatures
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in natural sciences: formation of galaxies (uid dynamics)
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in natural sciences: formation of galaxies (uid dynamics)
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in medicine (bone and tissue mechanics, blood ow)
from Arbenz, van Lenthe, Mennel, M uller and Sala: A scalable multi-level
preconditioner for matrix-free -nite element analysis of human bone
structures, Int. J. Numer. Meth. in Engineering 73 (2008), pp. 927947
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in medicine (bone and tissue mechanics, blood ow)
from Arbenz, van Lenthe, Mennel, M uller and Sala: A scalable multi-level
preconditioner for matrix-free -nite element analysis of human bone
structures, Int. J. Numer. Meth. in Engineering 73 (2008), pp. 927947
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Continuum mechanics in practice
.. in biology (tissue mechanics and growth)
from Schmundt et al. 2006
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Programme
Kinematic description of a continuum: deformation and
motion of .
Mechanical equilibria and conservation laws.
Constitutive laws of materials: elastic and visco-elastic
materials, Newtonian uids.
Typical problems of continuum mechanics: analytical and
numerical solution of elasto-statics/dynamics, compressible
and incompressible elasticity, Newtonian uids.
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
Necessary mathematical techniques
Mechanical state and properties of a continuum are
independent of the choice of a coordinate system.
We will introduce and use tensor calculus: covariant and
contravariant tensors and basic tensor operations, tensor elds in
euclidean space, derivatives of tensors.
Solutions of dierential equations will be calculated analytically
(on simple problems) or numerically: we will (re)-introduce the
basics of a nite element method.
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of simple analytical formulas: rubber baloon
Great deal of understanding through a simple toy model
Inate a rubber party-balloon with an internal gas pressure p
Initially, the baloon stretches to two dierent diameters, why?
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of simple analytical formulas: rubber baloon
Great deal of understanding through a simple toy model

r
r
p
0
r
t
Force equilibrium on the cut:
|F

| = |F
p
|
2rt = r
2
p
elastic stress: = E =
2r 2r
0
2r
0
E
rubber incompressibility: 4r
2
t = 4r
2
0
t
0
p(r ) = 2E
t
0
r
2
0
r
3
r r
0
r
0
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of simple analytical formulas: rubber baloon
Great deal of understanding through a simple toy model
Force equilibrium on the cut:
|F

| = |F
p
|
2rt = r
2
p
elastic stress: = E =
2r 2r
0
2r
0
E
rubber incompressibility: 4r
2
t = 4r
2
0
t
0
p(r ) = 2E
t
0
r
2
0
r
3
r r
0
r
0
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of mathematical analysis: singularities
Why it breaks always at a kink?
von Mieses stress: indicator of plastic deformation and rupture
Mathematical analysis of the solution of elasticity equations
predicts, that rupture occurs in re-entrant corners (kinks)!
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of mathematical analysis: (in)stability
Buckling phenomenon
The nightmare of civil engineers and architects
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of mathematical analysis: (in)stability
Buckling phenomenon
The nightmare of civil engineers and architects
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of mathematical analysis: (in)stability
Buckling phenomenon
The nightmare of civil engineers and architects
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction
The beauty of mathematical analysis: (in)stability
Buckling phenomenon
But it can also be exploited to our advantage!
shock absorber for road safety
Continuum mechanics 0. Introduction