The mathematical method of composites has reached a very high level of maturity and developments have increased our understanding of the relationship between the microstructure of composites and their macroscopic behaviour. This book provides a self-contained unified approach to the mathematical foundation of the theory of composites, leading to the general theory of exact relations. It also provides complete lists of exact relations in many specific physically relevant contexts, such as conductivity, fibre-reinforced elasticity, piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity and more.

This extended and updated new edition captures developments and results since the original edition and includes a new chapter on two-dimensional thermoelectricity, which concerns itself with effects coupling thermal and electrical conduction in the media.

The book starts with a novel unified approach to homogenization, and develops a general theory of microstructure-independent (exact) relations for composite materials that applies to most physical properties of interest, such as conductivity, elasticity, piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity etc. Its methods allow one to obtain a complete list of exact relations in each physical context of interest.

Key Features:

The mathematical method of composites has reached a very high level of maturity and developments have increased our understanding of the relationship between the microstructure of composites and their macroscopic behaviour. This book provides a self-contained unified approach to the mathematical foundation of the theory of composites, leading to the general theory of exact relations. It also provides complete lists of exact relations in many specific physically relevant contexts, such as conductivity, fibre-reinforced elasticity, piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity and more.

This extended and updated new edition captures developments and results since the original edition and includes a new chapter on two-dimensional thermoelectricity, which concerns itself with effects coupling thermal and electrical conduction in the media.

The book starts with a novel unified approach to homogenization, and develops a general theory of microstructure-independent (exact) relations for composite materials that applies to most physical properties of interest, such as conductivity, elasticity, piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity etc. Its methods allow one to obtain a complete list of exact relations in each physical context of interest.

Key Features: