With its origins in the theories of continuous distributions of dislocations and
of metal plasticity, inhomogeneity theory is a rich and vibrant field of research.
The recognition of the important role played by configurational or material
forces in phenomena such as growth and remodelling is perhaps its greatest
present-day impetus. While some excellent comprehensive works approaching the subject from different angles have been published, the objective of
this monograph is to present a point of view that emphasizes the differentialgeometric aspects of inhomogeneity theory. In so doing, we follow the general
lines of thought that we have propounded in many publications and presentations over the last two decades. Although based on these sources, this book is
a stand-alone entity and contains some new results and perspectives. At the
same time, it does not intend to present either a historical account of the development of the subject or a comprehensive picture of the various schools of
thought that can be encountered by perusing scholarly journals and attending
specialized symposia.