Tonti diagrams

Abstract

Tonti diagrams [1], also known as classification diagrams, allow a graphical representation of many physical theories to be made, e.g. heat conduction, which will be used as an example in this chapter, electromagnetism, solid mechanics and many more, and they also provide the methodological framework for the development of the cell method. A large number of such diagrams can be found in [2]. At the heart of these diagrams is the classification of physical variables into categories which clarify the roles they play in the respective physical theories. Furthermore, these classifications allow one to obtain a clear understanding of the role played by material laws. Another distinctive feature of this classification is that it helps one recognize the natural association of physical variables to space and time entities. This chapter is devoted to an explanation of the above mentioned concepts and it forms the basis of the development of the cell method. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.