Dynamics of Deformable Bodies: An Approximate Approach, with Applications to Solar System Bodies

by Ishan Sharma, James T. Jenkins, Joseph A. Burns

This book employs an approximate approach that can be systematically improved to investigate the statics and dynamics of deformable solid bodies. We apply these methods to investigate various phenomena encountered in planetary science that include disruptions during planetary fly-bys, equilibrium shapes, and nutational damping. With several space missions underway, and more being planned, interest in our immediate neighbourhood is growing. We feel that our flexible procedure may help gain valuable insight into the mechanics of solar system bodies, while at the same time complementing numerical investigations. The technique itself is built upon the virial method employed advantageously by Chandrasekhar (1969) for studying the equilibrium shapes of spinning fluid objects. However, we modify Chandrasekhar’s approach to study more complex dynamical situations and include objects of different rheologies, e.g., granular aggregates. The book itself requires basic familiarity with celestial mechanics and solid mechanics, though it is to a great extent self-contained.

300 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2011