Term information
Algorithm used for calculations with regard to deformation. "Deformation in continuum mechanics is the transformation of a body from a reference configuration to a current configuration.[1] A configuration is a set containing the positions of all particles of the body. Contrary to the common definition of deformation, which implies distortion or change in shape, the continuum mechanics definition includes rigid body motions where shape changes do not take place (,[1] footnote 4, p. 48). The cause of a deformation is not pertinent to the definition of the term. However, it is usually assumed that a deformation is caused by external loads,[2] body forces (such as gravity or electromagnetic forces), or temperature changes within the body." source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deformation_%28mechanics%29 [1] Truesdell, C. and Noll, W., (2004), The non-linear field theories of mechanics: Third edition, Springer, p. 48. [2] H.-C. Wu, Continuum Mechanics and Plasticity, CRC Press (2005), ISBN 1-58488-363-4