Jiashi Yang publishes book on three-dimensional theory for functional materials

March 1, 2023 - "Mechanics of Functional Materials," authored by Jiashi Yang, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and recetly published by World Scientific, outlines new methods of approaching studies of elastic, thermal, electric, and magnetic interactions in solids. 

Many books on the mechanics of materials treat elastic deformations of solids through one-dimensional models for the extension of rods, torsion of shafts and bending of beams. In functional materials, mechanical, thermal, electric and magnetic fields interact among themselves, and therefore, need a more comprehensive model. Yang's book presents a systematic treatment of the three-dimensional theories for these coupled phenomena and the corresponding one-dimensional models for extension, torsion and bending.

Yang's book adopts a mixed approach by devoting the first half of the book to the development of the three-dimensional theories of elastic, thermal, electric and magnetic fields as well as their interactions in dielectrics, conductors and semiconductors. The remainder of the book presents the one-dimensional models for extension, torsion and bending systematically.