
Research and Applications in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation – Zingoni (Ed.)
© 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-00061-2
Singularities that induce a breakdown of determinism in mechanics
Mike R. Jeffrey
Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
ABSTRACT: We show that determinism can break down at certain singularities that arise in the mechanics
of semi-rigid bodies. An example system consists of a wheel slipping and rolling along a surface. In a certain
configuration the force on the wheel and its ensuing motion acquire many possible values. The subsequent
motion is therefore inf