Mechanical Systems, Classical Models

All phenomena in nature are characterized by motion. Mechanics deals with the objective laws of mechanical motion of bodies, the simplest form of motion. In the study of a science of nature, mathematics plays an important rôle. Mechanics is the first science of nature which has been expressed in terms of mathematics, by considering various mathematical models, associated to phenomena of the surrounding nature. Thus, its development was influenced by the use of a strong mathematical tool. As it was already seen in the first two volumes of the present book, its guideline is precisely the mathematical model of mechanics. The classical models which we refer to are in fact models based on the Newtonian model of mechanics, that is on its five principles, i.e.: the inertia, the forces action, the action and reaction, the independence of the forces action and the initial conditions principle, respectively. Other models, e.g., the model of attraction forces between the particles of a discrete mechanical system, are part of the considered Newtonian model. Kepler's laws brilliantly verify this model in case of velocities much smaller then the light velocity in vacuum.

Prof. Dr. Doc. Petre P. Teodorescu
Born: June 30, 1929, Bucuresti.
M.Sc.: Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Bucharest, 1952; Faculty of Bridges of the Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, 1953.
Ph.D.: 'Calculus of rectangular deep beams in a general case of support and loading', Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, 1955.
Academic Positions: Consulting Professor.
at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Mathematics.
Fields of Research: Mechanics of Deformable Solids (especially Elastic Solids), Mathematical Methods of Calculus in Mechanics.
Selected Publications:
1. 'Applications of the Theory of Distributions in Mechanics', Editura Academiei-Abacus Press, Bucuresti-Tunbrige Wells, Kent, 1974 (with W. Kecs);
2. 'Dynamics of Linear Elastic Bodies', Editura Academiei-Abacus Press, Bucuresti-Tunbrige Wells, Kent, 1975;
3. 'Spinor and Non-Euclidean Tensor Calculus with Applications', Editura Tehnicã-Abacus Press, Bucuresti-Tunbrige Wells, Kent, 1983 (with I. Beju and E. Soos);
4. 'Mechanical Systems', vol. I, II, Editura Tehnicã, Bucuresti, 1988.
Invited Addresses: The 2nd European Conference of Solid Mechanics, September 1994, Genoa, Italy: Leader of a Section of the Conference and a Communication.
Lectures Given Abroad: Hannover, Dortmund, Paderborn, Germany, 1994; Padova, Pisa, Italy, 1994.
Additional Information: Prize 'Gh. Titeica' of the Romanian Academy in 1966; Member in the Advisory Board of Meccanica (Italy), Mechanics Research Communications and Letters in Applied Engineering Sciences (U.S.A.); Member of GAMM (Germany) and AMS (U.S.A.); Reviewer: Mathematical Reviews, Zentralblatt fuer Mathematik und ihre Grenzgebiete, Ph.D. advisor.