Intro Tensors
Intro Tensors
CONTINUUM MECHANICS
- Introduction to tensors
Attila KOSSA
2016.09.13.
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CONTINUUM MECHANICS - Introduction to tensors
Tensor algebra
Vectors
where ϕ is the angle between the tips of a and b, whereas |a| and |b|
represent the length of a and b. Vectors a and b are orthogonal (or
perpendicular to each other) if their scalar product is zero, i.e. a·b = 0.
2
Obviously we can observe that a · a = |a| .
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Vectors
Projection
Let the projection of vector a along the direction designated by the
unit vector e be denoted by ae . Then
ae = (a · e) e (3)
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Vectors
Cartesian basis
A Cartesian basis defined by three mutually perpendicular vectors, e1 ,
e2 and e3 , with the following properties:
e1 · e2 = 0, e1 · e3 = 0, e2 · e3 = 0, (4)
e1 × e2 = e3 , e2 × e3 = e1 , e3 × e1 = e2 . (5)
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Tensor algebra
Vectors
Component representation
Any vector a can be uniquely defined with the linear combination of
the basis vectors (e1 , e2 and e3 ) as
a = a1 e1 + a2 e2 + a3 e3 , (6)
where the components (a1 , a2 and a3 ) are real numbers. The compo-
nents of a along the bases are obtained by calculating the projections
a1 = a · e1 , a2 = a · e2 , a3 = a · e3 . (7)
Arranging the components into a 3 × 1 column matrix we arrive at the
matrix representation of vector a as
a1
[a] = a2 . (8)
a3
Obviously, the components of a vector a in other Cartesian basis will
be different numbers.
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Index notation I
Consider the component representation of vector a:
3
X
a = a1 e1 + a2 e2 + a3 e3 = ai ei (9)
i=1
3
X
a= ai ei = ai ei . (10)
i=1
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Index notation II
3
X
a= ai ei = ai ei . (11)
i=1
The index used to represent the sum is called dummy index. Replacing
the index i in the above expression does not affect the final result, thus
we can use any symbol:
ai ei = ab eb = aM eM = aβ eβ etc. (12)
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0 if i 6= j
δij = (13)
1 if i = j
Permutation symbol I
The permutation symbol is also called as alternating symbol or Levi–
Civita symbol. It can be imagined as a symbol which represents 27
numbers (either 0, 1 or −1) depending on the value of the indices:
1 for even permutation of ijk
ijk = −1 for odd permutation of ijk (16)
0 if there is a repeated index
Consequently
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Tensor algebra
Vectors
Permutation symbol II
The cross product of the basis vectors can be easily expressed using the
permutation symbol as
ei × ej = ijk ek , (20)
e1 × e2 = 123 e3 = e3 , (21)
e2 × e3 = 231 e1 = e1 , (22)
e3 × e1 = 312 e2 = e2 . (23)
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Scalar product
The scalar product of vectors a = ai ei and b = bj ej is calculated as
ai bi = a1 b1 + a2 b2 + a3 b3 . (25)
Observe the replacement property of δij : If δij appears in a term, where
i (or j) is a dummy index, then it can be changed to j (or i) and δij
can be removed from the term. For example:
ai bj δij = ai bi = aj bj , (26)
σab δbk = σak , (27)
cijk δjr δsk = cirk δsk = cirs . (28)
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Vectors
Cross product I
The cross product of vectors a = ai ei and b = bj ej is calculated as
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Tensor algebra
Vectors
Cross product II
Therefore
a × b = ai bj ijk ek = ck ek = c, (30)
| {z }
ck
where
c1 = ai bj ij1 = a2 b3 231 + a3 b2 321 = a2 b3 − a3 b2 , (31)
c2 = ai bj ij2 = a3 b1 312 + a1 b3 132 = a3 b1 − a1 b3 , (32)
c3 = ai bj ij3 = a1 b2 123 + a2 b1 213 = a1 b2 − a2 b1 , (33)
c1 a2 b3 − a3 b2
[c] = c2 = a3 b1 − a1 b3 . (34)
c3 a1 b2 − a2 b1
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a = ai ei , b = bj e j , c = cm em . (37)
Then
(a × b) · c = (b × c) · a = (c × a) · b. (40)
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Epsilon-delta identities
The following useful identities can be easily verified:
δaa = 3, (48)
abc abc = 6, (49)
abm adm = δac δbd − δad δbc , (50)
acd bcd = 2δab . (51)
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Tensor algebra
Second-order tensors
Definition
A second-order tensor σ can be imagined as a linear operator. Applying
σ on a vector n generates a new vector ρ:
ρ = σn, (52)
ρ = σ n. (53)
The second-order identity tensor I and the second order zero tensor 0
have the properties
In = n, 0n = 0. (54)
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Second-order tensors
a1 b1 a1 b2 a1 b3
[a ⊗ b] = a2 b1 a2 b2 a2 b3 , (57)
a3 b1 a3 b2 a3 b3
a1
T
[a ⊗ b] = [a] [b] = a2 b1 b2 b3 . (58)
a3
The ij-th component of the resulting second-order tensor is ai bj .
It can be seen that
(a ⊗ b) · c = (b · c) a. (59) 22 / 58
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Tensor algebra
Second-order tensors
A = Aij ei ⊗ ej . (60)
I = δij ei ⊗ ej (61)
The dyad a⊗b is a 2nd-order tensor, but not all 2nd-order tensor can
be written as a dyadic product of two vectors! In general, a 2nd-order
tensor has 9 components, whereas a dyad has only 6 components (2×3)
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Second-order tensors
Indical notation I
Consider the equation
a = b + Mc. (62)
ai = bi + Mij cj . (65)
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Second-order tensors
Indical notation II
It should be observed that the same free index must appear in
every term of an equation.
The indical notation is an order-independent representation. In
matrix notation the order of the multiplication cannot be
changed, however, in the indical notation (using the summation
convention) the terms can be rearranged without altering the
result. Example: Ab 6= bA, but Aij bj = bj Aij .
“The essence of the Einstein summation notation is to create a
set of notational defaults so that the summation sign and the
range of the subscripts do not need to be written explicitly in each
expression.”
“It is a collection of time-saving conventions. After an initial
investment of time, it converts difficult problems into problems
with workable solutions. It does not make easy problem easier,
however.”
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Tensor algebra
Second-order tensors
Trace
The trace of the second-order tensor A is
It is an invariant quantity.
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Tensor algebra
Second-order tensors
Determinant
The determinant of the second-order tensor A is
detA = A11 (A22 A33 − A23 A32 ) − A12 (A21 A33 − A23 A31 )
+ A13 (A21 A32 − A22 A31 ) , (68)
detA = ijk A1i A2j A3k , (69)
It is an invariant quantity. A is singular when detA = 0.
Useful relation
Double contraction
The double contraction (or double-dot product) between 2nd-order ten-
sors A and B is defined as
A : B = tr AT B = tr BT A = tr ABT = tr BAT .
(72)
Thus, the trace of A can be written as
Norm
The norm of the second-order tensor A is calculated as
√
kAk = A : A ≥ 0. (75)
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Second-order tensors
(Au) ·v = uAT · v.
(76)
1
A + AT ,
Asymm = symm (A) = (78)
2
1
A − AT .
Askew = skew (A) = (79)
2
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Second-order tensors
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Second-order tensors
Wu = ω × u, (83)
0 −ω3 ω2 ω1
[W] = ω3 0 −ω1 =⇒ [ω] = ω2 , (84)
−ω2 ω1 0 ω3
1
|ω| = √ kWk . (85)
2
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Second-order tensors
Inverse
The inverse A−1 of A is defined as
Orthogonal tensor
A tensor Q is said to be orthogonal if
QT = Q−1 , (91)
QQT = QT Q = I (92)
Definiteness
For all v 6= 0:
Positive semi-definite v · Av ≥ 0
Positive definite v · Av > 0
Negative semi-definite v · Av ≤ 0
Negative definite v · Av < 0
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Second-order tensors
Change of basis I
Let the bases vectors of two Cartesian coordinate system (having the
same origin) be denoted by
e1 , e2 , e3 and e1 , e
e e2 , e
e3 . (93)
a = ai ei ≡ e
aj e
ej , (94)
Qij = ei · e
ej . (95)
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Second-order tensors
Change of basis II
Then
e1 = (e1 · e
e e1 ) e1 + (e2 · e
e1 ) e2 + (e3 · e
e1 ) e3 , (96)
e2 = (e1 · e
e e2 ) e1 + (e2 · e
e2 ) e2 + (e3 · e
e2 ) e3 , (97)
e3 = (e1 · e
e e3 ) e1 + (e2 · e
e3 ) e2 + (e3 · e
e3 ) e3 . (98)
Thus
ej = Qij ei
e and ei = Qij e
ej . (99)
ai ei = e
aj Qij ei and ai Qij e
ej = e
aj e
ej . (100)
Thus
ai = Qij e
aj and aj = ai Qij .
e (101)
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Second-order tensors
T
[a] = [Q] [e
a] and [e
a] = [Q] [a] , (102)
h i h i
e [Q]T
[A] = [Q] A and e = [Q]T [A] [Q] .
A (104)
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Second-order tensors
where
1
sph (A) = pI = trA I, (106)
3
1
dev (A) = A − trA I. (107)
3
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Second-order tensors
Eigenvalues, eigenvectors I
An eigenpair of a 2nd-order tensor A mean a scalar λi and unit vector
ni satisfying
det (A − λi I) = 0. (109)
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Second-order tensors
Eigenvalues, eigenvectors II
The eigenvectors are defined by the linear homogeneous equations
(A − λi I) ni = 0. (110)
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Tensor algebra
Second-order tensors
Spectral decomposition
Any symmetric 2nd-order tensor A can be represented by its eigenval-
ues λi and eigenvectors ni as
3
X 3
X
A= λi (ni ⊗ ni ) = λi mi , (111)
i=1 i=1
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Second-order tensors
Principal invariants
The principal scalar invariants of the 2nd-order tensor A are
I1 = trA = λ1 + λ2 + λ3 , (113)
1 2
(trA) − tr A2 = tr A−1 detA = λ1 λ2 +λ1 λ3 +λ2 λ3 ,
I2 =
2
(114)
I3 = detA = λ1 λ2 λ3 . (115)
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Second-order tensors
Cayley-Hamilton theorem
The Cayley-Hamilton theorem states that the 2nd-order tensor A sat-
isfies its characteristic equation. Thus
A3 − I1 A2 + I2 A − I3 I = 0, (116)
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Indical notation
Indical notation
Commas in the subscript mean that a partial derivative is to be applied.
The index after the comma represents partial derivatives with respect
to the default arguments, which are usually the coordinates x1 , x2 and
x3 .
∂ui
ui,j = . (117)
∂xj
Example:
∂ui ∂u1 ∂u2 ∂u3
ai ui,j = ai = a1 + a2 + a3 . (118)
∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj
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Nabla operator
Nabla operator
The nabla operator (or del operator or vector-differential operator) is
defined as
∂ (•)
∇ (•) = ei , (119)
∂xi
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Gradient
∂T ∂T ∂T ∂T
gradT = ∇T = ei = e1 + e2 + e3 (121)
∂xi ∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3
Indical notation:
∂T
T,i = (122)
∂xi
The matrix representation of the resulting vector:
T,1
[gradT ] = T,2 (123)
T,3
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Tensor calculus
Gradient
Directional derivative
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Gradient
∂u ∂ui
gradu = ∇u = =u⊗∇= ei ⊗ ej (124)
∂x ∂xj
Matrix representation:
∂u1 ∂u1 ∂u1
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3 u1,1 u1,2 u1,3
∂u2 ∂u2 ∂u2
[gradu] = = u2,1 u2,2 u2,3 (125)
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3
∂u3 ∂u3 ∂u3 u3,1 u2,2 u3,3
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3
Transposed gradient:
∂ui
gradT u = ∇ ⊗ u = ej ⊗ ei (126)
∂xj
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Gradient
∂ (•)
gradA = A ⊗ ∇ = (Aij ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ ek (127)
∂xk
∂Aij
= ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek = Aij,k ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek (128)
∂xk
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Tensor calculus
Divergence
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Divergence
∂ (•) ∂ai ∂ai
diva = ∇ · a = ej · (ai ei ) = δij = = ai,i (130)
∂xj ∂xj ∂xi
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Divergence
∂ (•) ∂σij
divσ = σ · ∇ = (σij ei ⊗ ej ) · ek = δjk ei = σij,j ei
∂xk ∂xk
(132)
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Curl
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Curl
∂
curla = rota = ∇ × a = ei × (aj ej ) (134)
∂xi
∂aj
= ijk ek = aj,i ijk ek (135)
∂xi
a3,2 − a2,3
[curla] = a1,3 − a3,1 (136)
a2,1 − a1,2
If curla = 0 then the vector field is irrotational (or conservative or
curl-free).
If a can be expressed as a = gradφ, where φ is the potential of a, then
a is irrotational, beacause of the identity curl (gradφ) = 0.
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Curl
∂
curlA = ∇ × A = ek × (Aij ei ⊗ ej ) (137)
∂xk
∂Aij
= kim em ⊗ ej = Aij,k kim em ⊗ ej (138)
∂xk
Ai1,k ki1 Ai2,k ki1 Ai3,k ki1
[curlA] = Ai1,k ki1 Ai2,k ki1 Ai3,k ki1 (139)
Ai1,k ki1 Ai2,k ki1 Ai3,k ki1
∂A31 ∂A21
where Ai1,k ki1 = A31,2 − A21,3 = ∂x2 − ∂x3 for instance.
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Laplacian
∂ (•) ∂ (•)
4 (•) = ∇2 (•) = ∇ (•) · ∇ (•) = ei · ej (140)
∂xi ∂xj
∂ 2 (•) ∂ 2 (•) ∂ 2 (•)
4 (•) = ei · ej = δij = (141)
∂xi ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xi ∂xi
∂ 2 (•) ∂ 2 (•) ∂ 2 (•) ∂ 2 (•)
4 (•) = 2 = + + (142)
∂xi ∂x21 ∂x22 ∂x23
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Laplacian
∂ 2 (ui ei )
4u = = (ui,j ),j ei = ui,jj ei (144)
∂x2j
2 2 2
∂ u1
∂x21
+ ∂∂xu21 + ∂∂xu21
∂2u 2 2
∂ 2 u2 ∂ 2 u2
[4u] = 2 + ∂x2 + ∂x2 (145)
2
∂x 1 2 2
∂ 2 u3 ∂ 2 u3 ∂ 2 u3
∂x 2 + ∂x 2 + ∂x 2
1 2 2
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