ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the notion of an influence function to problems of continuum mechanics stated in compound media whose properties discontinuously vary within regions under consideration. It describes a position to extend the concept of an influence function to compound media. The chapter based on a version of Lagrange's method of variation of parameters to show how influence matrices for piecewise homogeneous media can practically be constructed for various situations in continuum mechanics. It considers a number of particular examples from the potential theory and theory of elasticity. The chapter is concerned with the construction of influence matrices of a concentrated unit source for the equation of potential stated on various joint thin-walled structures consisting of shell and plate elements.
