The governing equations of a novel structural model are derived from general balance equations and Lagrangian mechanics. The model represents slender bodies whose mechanical behavior resembles that of nonlinear beams, but in which torsion does not play any role at all. Continuum bodies with such a behavior do not exist, but composite bodies and mechanisms whose overall response can be described in such a way can be found. In fact, the motivation for this work is the study of polymers, which can be efficiently modeled as torsion-free rods instead of using long spring-mass chains.     «

The governing equations of a novel structural model are derived from general balance equations and Lagrangian mechanics. The model represents slender bodies whose mechanical behavior resembles that of nonlinear beams, but in which torsion does not play any role at all. Continuum bodies with such a behavior do not exist, but composite bodies and mechanisms whose overall response can be described in such a way can be found. In fact, the motivation for this work is the study of polymers, which can...     »