ABSTRACT
The general objective of an analysis in the mechanics of solids is computation of material motion in response to load that may be a combination of applied forces and specified displacements. A continuum theory is needed for this purpose. Elements of any continuum theory follow from considerations of physical laws, kinematics, and material laws. Physical laws are usually conservation or balance laws such as conservation of mass and balances of linear and angular momentum. Kinematics refers to the geometry of motion. Motion of a material element may be considered as rigid body translation and rotation accompanied by volume and shape changes. The one-dimensional concepts of yielding, elastic-plastic strain, loading, and unloading need to be generalized to three dimensions as part of an effort to establish a plasticity theory. In three dimensions, the elastic limit is a functional relationship among the stresses.
