On the Role of Analysis in Mechanics

Abstract

Experimental mechanics and mathematics are closely interwoven. Experiments provide facts and data which have to be explained and made consistent by introducing hypotheses which are formulated in mathematical terms. Such hypotheses lead to new systematical experimentation and so on. The result will be a well founded theory in one of the fields of mechanics. Realizing this interaction between the two disciplines, which should be of interest to reviewers, recent developments in mathematics, which have had and will probably have a great influence on mechanics, are briefly discussed in this article.