As a primary branch of physical mechanics, continuum mechanics deals with forces and behaviours that are continuous throughout a material or system, be it solid or fluid. It includes such behaviors as stress, strain, kinematics, elasticity, and plasticity. Without a thorough understanding of continuum mechancs, virtually all advanced mechanical engineering would be impossible. This classic text by noted educators, W. Michael Lai, David Rubin and Erhard Krempl, has been used for over 30 years to introduce continuum mechanics from the upper undergraduate to graduate level. It begins with a th