Configurational Forces as Basic Concepts of Continuum Physics

For the last decade, the author has been working to extend continuum mechanics to treat moving boundaries in materials focusing, in particular, on problems of metallurgy. This monograph presents a rational treatment of the notion of configurational forces; it is an effort to promote a new viewpoint. Included is a presentation of configurational forces within a classical context and a discussion of their use in areas as diverse as phase transitions and fracture. The work should be of interest to materials scientists, mechanicians, and mathematicians.

From the reviews:

SIAM REVIEW

"This important book presents the development, within the framework of continuum mechanics, of the mathematical theory of such accretive forces...The monograph is a clearly and concisely written collection of short chapters...The framework provided by the use of configurational as well as standard forces is convincingly set out in an elegant and unifying manner and is applicable to a variety of significant issues in continuum mechanics. The author has produced a book that is certain to be of great importance to many workers in the mechanics and physics of continua."

MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS

"...the more original contributions in the book devoted to interfaces and solidifications are extremely interesting. They obviously correspond to the specific domain to which the author has powerfully contributed with great ingenuity and talent."