Continuum mechanics and thermodynamics are foundational theories of many
fields of science and engineering. This book presents a fresh
perspective on these fundamental topics, connecting micro- and
nanoscopic theories and emphasizing topics relevant to understanding
solid-state thermo-mechanical behavior. Providing clear, in-depth
coverage, the book gives a self-contained treatment of topics directly
related to nonlinear materials modeling. It starts with vectors and
tensors, finite deformation kinematics, the fundamental balance and
conservation laws, and classical thermodynamics. It then discusses the
principles of constitutive theory and examples of constitutive models,
presents a foundational treatment of energy principles and stability
theory, and concludes with example closed-form solutions and the
essentials of finite elements. Together with its companion book,
Modeling Materials, (Cambridge University Press, 2011), this work
presents the fundamentals of multiscale materials modeling for graduate
students and researchers in physics, materials science, chemistry and
engineering.