Forces and Stress in Deformable Bodies

This lecture introduces the concept of forces acting on deformable bodies, focusing on their distribution and mathematical description. The discussion covers body forces, traction vectors, and Cauchy's stress principle, emphasizing the relationship between forces and equilibrium. The lecture also delves into the linear relationship between stress and surface normal, leading to the existence of a second-rank tensor. Various components of stress tensors are explored, including normal and shear stresses, providing a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play in deformable bodies.