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402-0234-00L 8 Credits BSC D-PHYS

Mechanics of Continua

Kontinuumsmechanik

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Nicolò Defenu
Physics BSc students with programme regulations 2016 need to register for "402-0234-10L Kontinuumsmechanik" Special Students UZH must book the module PHY352 directly at UZH. A repetition week is offered at the end of the semester.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:40

Abstract

Mechanics of Elastic Media and Hydrodynamics: Strain and stress tensor, field equations, equilibrium, waves and oscillations. Dynamics of fluids, Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, Bernoulli equation, vortices, waves, potential flows; viscous fluids, Reynolds number, Stokes drag, boundary layers, instabilities.

Objective

Knowledge of the essential concepts and methods of theoretical mechanics of elastic media and hydrodynamics. Consolidation through examples and solution of exercise problems.

Content

Introduction to the concepts and methods of theoretical mechanics of elastic media and hyrdodynamics: relation between strain and stress tensor, balance equations, field equations of elastic media, elastostatics, waves and oscillations. Dynamics of fluida, Euler equations of ideal fluida, Navier-Stokes equations of real fluids, Bernoulli equations, vortex theorems of Thomson and Helmholtz, dynamics of vortices, oscillation and waves in fluida. Incompressible viscos fluida, Reynolds number, Hagen-Poiseuille flow, Stokes law, Prandtl's boundary layer, Couette flow and Taylor instability.

Resources

Literature

Theoretische Mechanik: Punkt- und Kontinuumsmechanik, H. Stephani und G. Kluge, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. Course of Theoretical Physics VII: Theory of Elasticity, L. D. Landau und E. M. Lifschitz, Pergamon Press. Mechanik der deformierbaren Medien, A. Sommerfeld Band II, Verlag Harri Deutsch. Theoretical Mechanics of Particles and Continua, A. L. Fetter and J. D. Walecka, Dover Publications Inc. The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Volume II, R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton and M. Sands, Addison–Wesley. Kontinuumsmechanik, H. Altenbach, Springer Verlag. Kontinuumsmechanik, R. Greve, Springer Verlag. Course of Theoretical Physics II: Hydrodynamics, L. D. Landau und E. M. Lifschitz, Pergamon Press. Hydrodynamik, W. Greiner und H. Stock, Verlag Harri Deutsch. Fluid dynamics for physists, T. E. Faber, Cambridge University Press. Fluid mechanics, P. K. Kundu, Academic Press Inc. Strömungslehre, H. Schade und E. Kunz, de Gruyter Lehrbuch Berlin. Strömungslehre, J. H. Spurk und N. Aksel, Springer Verlag. P. Chadwick, Continuum Mechanics: Concise Theory and Problems, Dover,1999. M.E. Gurtin, E. Fried and L. Anand, The Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Continua, Cambridge University Press, 2010. C. Truesdell and W. Noll, The nonlinear field theories of mechanics, in Handbu ̈ch der Physik, Edited by S. Flu ̈gge, Volume III/3, Springer, 1965.

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Kontinuumsmechanik
**together with University of Zurich**
  • Wed 12:45-13:30 (HIL E 9)
  • Thu 11:45-13:30 (HIL E 9)
3 h weekly
exercise Kontinuumsmechanik
**together with University of Zurich**
  • Thu 13:45-15:30 (HIT K 51)
  • Thu 15:45-17:30 (HIT H 42)
2 h weekly

Offered In