"Material" mechanics of materials

Abstract

The paper outlines recent developments and prospects in the application of the continuum mechanics expressed intrinsically on the material manifold itself. This includes applications to materially inhomogeneous materials physical effects which, in this vision, manifest themselves as quasi-in homogeneities, and the notion of thermo dynamical driving force of the dissipative progress of singular point sets on the material manifold with special emphasis on fracture, shock waves and phase-transition fronts. .