Material distributions

Abstract

The concept of material distribution is introduced as describing the geometric material structure of a general non-uniform body. Any smooth constitutive law is shown to give rise to a unique smooth integrable singular distribution. Ultimately, the material distribution and its associated singular foliation result in a rigorous and unique subdivision of the material body into strictly smoothly uniform components. Thus, the constitutive law induces a unique partition of the body into smoothly uniform sub-bodies, laminates, filaments and isolated points.