Chapter 1

Simple questions and answers

1.1 What is a constitutive equation?

A constitutive equation is a mathematical relation connecting stress and strain for

a particular material. Of course, stress and strain are tensorial quantities. Besides
stress and strain, some additional quantities, the material constants (e.g. YOUNG’S
modulus), appear within a constitutive equation. The values of the material constants
adjust the constitutive equation to a particular material, i.e. they make possible to
distinguish e.g. between an elastic rubber and an elastic steel.

1.2 What for is a constitutive equation useful?

In order to predict the deformations and/or the stability of a loaded body you need
to know its constitutive equation. E.g., the constitutive equation of soil is needed to
predict the stability of a slope or a cut, or to predict the loads exerted to the lining of
a tunnel or to a basement, and also to predict the deformations around an excavation
or the settlement due to tunnelling or due to extraction of oil from the underground.
To answer these questions we use the balance laws of mechanics (balance of mass
and momentum). Since these equations are in most cases insufficient to solve the
problem, we need some additional information, which is provided by the constitutive
equation.

The knowledge of the constitutive equation is necessary but not sufficient to answer
the above stated questions. We also need to carry out complicated numerical calcu-
lations, mainly following the method of finite elements.

A sound constitutive equation also helps to understand the behaviour of a material.

Virtually, this understanding is only possible within the framework of a constitutive
equation.
1