Deformation changes a body's shape or size. Strain quantifies relative changes in lengths and angles, whereas a rigid translation or rotation alone produces no strain. The continuum approximation describes these changes using displacement fields and their spatial variation.
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In mechanics, deformation refers to the change in shape or size of an object when subjected to an external force or load. This can occur in solids, liquids, and gases, but it is most commonly discussed in the context of solid mechanics. Deformation can be elastic or plastic, depending on the material and the magnitude of the applied stress. 1. **Elastic Deformation**: In this case, the deformation is temporary.