ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses fundamentals of continuum mechanics and constitutive laws used in nonlinear computational mechanics. It focuses on finite element formulations and nonlinear equation solution techniques for various nonlinear problems. The book also discusses a new approach, information-based modeling, for characterizing material behavior based on information-rich tests. There are many types of nonlinear constitutive models. Some are nonlinear elastic, which may be useful for modeling rubber-like materials and some biological materials. The book also discusses a type of formulation, that is, a corotational (CR) formulation, that resembles in some respects an updated Lagrangian (UDL) formulation. It also illustrates some important aspects of nonlinear structural behavior and discusses main underlying reasons for such behavior. Nonuniqueness is an important aspect of behavior of nonlinear structural systems. The book presents simple example in which nonuniqueness is caused by interaction between axial and bending modes of deformation.
