Mechanics of systems of affine bodies. Geometric foundations and applications in dynamics of structured media

摘要

Discussed are geometric structures underlying analytical mechanics of systems of affine bodies. Presented is detailed algebraic and geometric analysis of concepts like mutual deformation tensors and their invariants. Problems of affine invariance and of its interplay with the usual Euclidean invariance are reviewed. This analysis was motivated by mechanics of affine (homogeneously deformable) bodies, nevertheless, it is also relevant for the theory of unconstrained continua and discrete media. Postulated are some models where the dynamics of elastic vibrations is encoded not only in potential energy (sometimes even not at all) but also (sometimes first of all) in appropriately chosen models of kinetic energy (metric tensor on the configuration space), like in Maupertuis principle. Physically, the models may be applied in structured discrete media, molecular crystals, fullerens, and even in description of astrophysical objects. Continuous limit of our affine-multibody theory is expected to provide a new class of micromorphic media.