ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Although it now finds applications in typical engineering settings such as the application of finite-element and finite-volume computational techniques, the theory of configurational – or material – forces smells good of its mathematical-physical origin. It is in the light of this evidence that we briefly examine some of the most recent fruitful developments of this theory. The newly entertained relationship with computational techniques based on mathematical formulations akin to general conservation laws (weak form such as the principle of virtual power, classical volume balance laws) is not so surprising. This contribution revisits some recent progress such as the generation of material “driving” forces in the spirit of the principle of virual power, and the allied application to numerical schemes such as those developed for studying the nonrectilinear progress of cracks (finite elements) and the progress of phase transition fronts (finite volumes).
