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.

This is one of the few books on the subject of mathematical materials science. It discusses the dynamics of two-phase systems within the framework of modern continuum thermodynamics, stressing fundamentals. Two general theories are discussed: a mechanical theory that leads to a generalization of the classical curve-shortening equation and a theory of heat conduction that broadly generalizes the classical Stefan theory. This original survey includes simple solutions that demonstrate the instabilities inherent in two-phase problems. The free-boundary problems that form the basis of the subject should be of great interest to mathematicians and physical scientists.

The Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Continua presents a unified treatment of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics that emphasizes the universal status of the basic balances and the entropy imbalance. These laws are viewed as fundamental building blocks on which to frame theories of material behavior. As a valuable reference source, this book presents a detailed and complete treatment of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics for graduates and advanced undergraduates in engineering, physics, and mathematics. The chapters on plasticity discuss the standard isotropic theories and, in addition, crystal plasticity and gradient plasticity.

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.

This IMA Volume in Mathematics and its Applications ON THE EVOLUTION OF PHASE BOUNDARIES is based on the proceedings of a workshop which was an integral part of the 1990- 91 IMA program on "Phase Transitions and Free Boundaries." The purpose of the workshop was to bring together mathematicians and other scientists working on the Stefan problem and related theories for modeling physical phenomena that occurs in two phase systems. We thank M.E. Gurtin and G. McFadden for editing the proceedings. We also take this opportunity to thank the National Science Foundation, whose financial support made the workshop possible. A vner Friedman Willard Miller, Jr. PREFACE A primary goal of the IMA workshop on the Evolution of Phase Boundaries from September 17-21, 1990 was to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of contempo rary research in this field, research which combines ideas from nonlinear partial dif ferential equations, asymptotic analysis, numerical computation, and experimental science. The workshop brought together researchers from several disciplines, includ ing mathematics, physics, and both experimental and theoretical materials science."

This book presents an introduction to the classical theories of continuum mechanics; in particular, to the theories of ideal, compressible, and viscous fluids, and to the linear and nonlinear theories of elasticity. These theories are important, not only because they are applicable to a majority of the problems in continuum mechanics arising in practice, but because they form a solid base upon which one can readily construct more complex theories of material behavior. Further, although attention is limited to the classical theories, the treatment is modern with a major emphasis on foundations and structure

The Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Continua presents a unified treatment of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics that emphasises the universal status of the basic balances and the entropy imbalance. These laws are viewed as fundamental building blocks on which to frame theories of material behaviour. As a valuable reference source, this book presents a detailed and complete treatment of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics for graduates and advanced undergraduates in engineering, physics and mathematics. The chapters on plasticity discuss the standard isotropic theories and, in addition, crystal plasticity and gradient plasticity.