Traction, Stress and Equilibrium

An approach to the solution of problems in solid mechanics is to establish relationships first between applied loads and internal stresses and, subsequently, to consider deformations. Another approach is to examine deformations initially, and then proceed to the stresses and applied loads. Regardless of the eventual solution path selected, it is necessary to derive the component relationships individually. In this chapter, the first set of equations, which describe equilibrium between external and internal forces and stresses, are derived.