The method of virtual power in continuum mechanics. Application to media presenting singular surfaces and interfaces (Q1077189)

The aim of the paper is to extend the formulation of the principle of virtual power, using finite velocity fields, for continuous media swept out by singular surfaces which are either free singular surfaces (such as usual strong discontinuities in continuum mechanics) or thermodynamical surfaces (interfaces between phases). It is shown how to construct the ''internal'' contact forces existing at the discontinuity as well as the inertial contributions arising from mass transfer across the singular surface and the accelerations of particles attached to it.