Deformable body

A deformable body is a physical body that deforms, meaning it changes its shape or volume while being acted upon by an external force. The relative position of any points on a deformable body can change. They are the opposite of rigid bodies and are defined by their elements. The deformable body's ideal representation is an infinite collection of particles that makeup the body's boundary. In physics, deformable bodies are much harder to work with and simulate than rigid bodies. Their equations of motion are more complex because additional coordinate systems are required to account for the body's deformation. The theory of small displacements is often used by engineers and physicists to solve solid mechanics problems involving deformations. This allows for simplifications to the problem to be made, allowing it to be solved much more easily. These approximations allow the solution to very closely resemble reality as long as the deformations remain small. If large displacements are to be considered a finite element analysis may need to be undertaken by an engineer.

See also

• Deformable terrain