Isaac Newton Institute - Abstracts Navigation INI Home Page GPF Program GPFW06P Workshop Mechanics of an assembly of nearly rigid material elements. -- (undated) Curt Koenders , (Kingston) curt_koenders@yahoo.co.uk In order to study the rigid limit, a two-dimensional model material is introduced in which the plane is covered with material elements that interact with one another via their edges. The material elements are diamond shaped; the direction of the sides of the diamonds is part of the definition of the material. All elements have the same size and shape. The interaction between the materials elements has elastic frictional features. The purpose of the exercise is to elucidate mechanical concepts in a simple model with incremental motion.