Maxwell-Lorentz electrodynamics as a manifestation of the dynamics of a viscoelastic metacontinuum

We prove that, when linearized, the governing equations of an incompressible viscoelastic continuum can be rendered into a form identical to that of Maxwell's equations of electrodynamics. The divergence of deviator stress tensor is analogous to the electric field, while the vorticity (the curl of velocity field) is interpreted as the magnetic field. The elastic part of constitutive relation explains Maxwell's displacement current, and is responsible for the propagation of gradient (shear) waves. In turn, the viscous part is associated with the Ampere's and Ohm's laws for the current. This analogy is extended further and the nonlinearity of the material time derivative (the advective part of acceleration) is interpreted as the Lorentz force. The classical wave equations of electrodynamics are also derived as corollaries. Thus an interesting and far reaching analogy between the viscoelastic continuum and the electrodynamics is established. (c) 2006 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.