Variational methods are applied to prove the existence of weak solutions
for boundary value problems from the deformation theory of plasticity as
well as for the slow, steady state flow of generalized Newtonian fluids
including the Bingham and Prandtl-Eyring model. For perfect plasticity
the role of the stress tensor is emphasized by studying the dual
variational problem in appropriate function spaces. The main results
describe the analytic properties of weak solutions, e.g.
differentiability of velocity fields and continuity of stresses. The
monograph addresses researchers and graduate students interested in
applications of variational and PDE methods in the mechanics of solids
and fluids.