The notes on finite deformation have been divided into two parts: special cases (http://imechanica.org/node/5065) and general theory. In class I start with special cases, and then sketch the general theory. But the two parts can be read in any order.

Subject to loads, a body deforms. We would like to develop a theory to evolve this deformation in time. In continuum mechanics, we model the body by a field of particles, and update the positions of the particles by using an equation of motion. We formulate the equation of motion by mixing the following ingredients:

• kinematics of deformation,
• conservation of mass,
• conservation of linear momentum,
• conservation of angular momentum,
• production of entropy,
• models of materials.

Each of these ingredients has alternative, but equivalent, mathematical representations. To focus on essential ideas, we will first adopt one set of representations, using nominal quantities. At the end of the notes, we will sketch some of the alternatives.

Return to the outline of the course.