Continuum Physics

This book gives an insight into the current developments in the field of continuum mechanics. Twenty-five researchers present new theoretical concepts, e.g., better inclusion of the microstructure in the models describing material behavior. At the same time, there are also more applications for the theories in engineering practice.

Many phenomena in the physical and biological sciences involve the collective behaviour of (very large) numbers of individual objects. For example, the be­ haviour of gases ultimately concerns the interacting motions of uncountably many atoms and molecules, but to understand flow in nozzles, around aircraft and in meteorology it is best to treat velocity and density as continuous func­ tions of position and time and then to analyse the associated flows. Although modern electronics involves ever smaller components, even the semiconduc­ tor devices used widely in electronic communications and in digital processing involve collective phenomena, such as electric currents and fields, which are continuously varying functions of position and time. Diffusion and reaction between various chemical constituents, the growth and spread of biological or­ ganisms and the flow of traffic on major highways are all phenomena which may be described and analysed in terms of fields and flows, while sound, light and various other electromagnetic phenomena involve both fields and waves. Treating these using a continuum model, which does not attempt to trace the motion and evolution of individual objects, often gives good predictions. The mathematical concepts and techniques which underlie such treatments are the subject of this book. This book is designed as a first introduction to the use of mathematical techniques, within continuum theories.

This book offers a current image of modern mechanics. The book reflects current state of the art in the field of continuum mechanics and mechanics of structures including recent achievements in classic and non-classic approaches. The chapters are written by leading specialist in the field, so the book collects cutting edge investigations in the field. As a target we consider the society starting from beginners, i.e. master and PhD students, and also leaders in the field, that is professors of universities and civil, mechanical and aerospace engineers.

This book offers a current image of modern mechanics. The book reflects current state of the art in the field of continuum mechanics and mechanics of structures including recent achievements in classic and non-classic approaches. The chapters are written by leading specialist in the field, so the book collects cutting edge investigations in the field. As a target we consider the society starting from beginners, i.e. master and PhD students, and also leaders in the field, that is professors of universities and civil, mechanical and aerospace engineers.

This book offers a current image of modern mechanics. The book reflects current state of the art in the field of continuum mechanics and mechanics of structures including recent achievements in classic and non-classic approaches. The chapters are written by leading specialist in the field, so the book collects cutting edge investigations in the field. As a target we consider the society starting from beginners, i.e. master and PhD students, and also leaders in the field, that is professors of universities and civil, mechanical and aerospace engineers.

"Basic Concepts in Physics: From the Cosmos to Quarks" is the outcome of the authors' long and varied teaching experience in different countries and for different audiences, and gives an accessible and eminently readable introduction to all the main ideas of modern physics. The book’s fresh approach, using a novel combination of historical and conceptual viewpoints, makes it ideal complementary reading to more standard textbooks. The first five chapters are devoted to classical physics, from planetary motion to special relativity, always keeping in mind its relevance to questions of contemporary interest. The next six chapters deal mainly with newer developments in physics, from quantum theory and general relativity to grand unified theories, and the book concludes by discussing the role of physics in living systems.

Turbulence remains one of the most challenging problems in classical physics. The papers collected in this volume are the proceedings of an IUTAM S- posium on turbulence, entitled Computational Physics and New Perspectives in Turbulence.

Classical mechanics is the basis for any university-level study of technical-scientific disciplines. But most existing manuals use a technological and engineering approach, with basic aspects sometimes insufficiently highlighted. This book introduces the concepts and applications of classical mechanics into Newtonian formalism. Newtonian dynamics is useful for solving applied physics and engineering problems, but also a fascinating theory anchored in questions posed since the times of the Greek philosophers, regarding space, the flow of time, measurable physical quantities, the physical principles with the mathematical structure needed to describe the Universe, etc. The author aims to encourage students to think about these fundamental aspects and how they will be addressed in modern physics, including the successes and limitations of Newton's mechanics. The book is designed to mirror the progress of the students using it, with earlier chapters assuming no more than basic high school instruction and later ones geared toward subsequent enhanced understanding. The book is designed for students of undergraduate programs in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering who will deal with modern physics, as they will benefit from an approach in which the aspects of classical mechanics are introduced in a propaedeutic approach towards relativistic physics and quantum mechanics.