Chapter 6 - Elastic behaviour of solids

Abstract

This chapter discusses the relationship between the forces acting on a solid and the resulting deformations. Any object subjected to a mechanical force deforms. This deformation, which leads to the displacement of the atoms from their equilibrium position, produces forces of retraction opposing the deformation. These tend to re-establish the solid in its original form when the force is no longer applied. The behavior of solids subjected to mechanical stresses is determined by the nature of the interatomic forces. The chapter also describes the concept of modulus of elasticity and focuses on the atomic parameters that determine the elastic behavior of solids. It also analyzes the viscoelastic behavior of certain materials and introduces the concept of linear viscoelasticity. The behavior of solids, subjected to mechanical stresses, is determined by the nature of interatomic forces. Moreover, the theory of elasticity treats the relationship between forces applied to an object and the resulting deformations. However, in practice, the analysis of the elastic behavior of a material is reduced to the study of simple deformations and determination of the corresponding elastic constants.