63

CHAPTER 2

ELEMENTS OF CONTINUUM MECHANICS

2.1. The n o t i o n o f m a t e r i a l continuum

Continuum mechanics is a branch of physical science concerned with the motion

and deformation of continuous material media under the influence of external

agents (forces). Continuum physics is a broader field which includes the study

of such effects as chemical interactions, electromagnetic effects, and other

environmental changes. In the present work, we of course focus our attention

on the coupled electromagneto-mechanical effects of which electromechanical

and m a g n e t o m e c h a n i c a l effects in elastic solids are but special cases.

In reality physical bodies appear in the form of collections of material points

interconnected by some internal forces. Yet, in continuum physics, the subject

matter is concerned w i t h macroscopic phenomena, in which the smallest characteris-

tic length of interest is much larger than the size of an atom. The fundamental

assumption of continuity of mass and of some other fields thus represents an

excellent approximation in support of the corresponding mathematical idealiza-

tion : if the continuous mathematical description is accepted, then continuum

physics relies on the fact that the balance laws and the constitutive axioms

of matter are valid for every part of the material body, no matter how small

it may be. Accordingly, a small volume AV enclosed within a surface AS

possesses a mass d e n s i t y , , defined by

p

(2.1.1) Ρ = Um φ ϊ 0 ,

where Am is the total mass contained in A V . Here, ρ is independent of the

size of AV and depends only on the position χ of a point in AV and on

time t. In order to judge of the physical validity of the mathematical definition

(2.1.1), consider the following thought experiment for the measurement of p.

The mass density of a homogeneous material may be e v a l u a t e d by w e i g h t i n g a large

number of pieces having different volumes A V , and calculating the ratio Am/AV

for each p i e c e . If the resulting numbers are plotted versus AV (see Figure
p