On the derivation of constitutive relations for Cosserat continuum description of structural elements and materials with microstructure

In this paper we discuss the mechanics of the Cosserat continuum and its relevance to the description of structural elements and materials with microstructure. It shows how the standard beam and plate formulations can be derived as reduced forms of the generalized Cosserat continuum. Furthermore, the Cosserat description of materials with microstructure and the procedure to determine the constitutive equations for such materials are described.