Tensor derivative (continuum mechanics)

Summary

The derivatives of scalars, vectors, and second-order tensors with respect to second-order tensors are of considerable use in continuum mechanics. These derivatives are used in the theories of nonlinear elasticity and plasticity, particularly in the design of algorithms for numerical simulations.[1]

The directional derivative provides a systematic way of finding these derivatives.[2]

Derivatives with respect to vectors and second-order tensors edit

The definitions of directional derivatives for various situations are given below. It is assumed that the functions are sufficiently smooth that derivatives can be taken.

Derivatives of scalar valued functions of vectors edit

Let f(v) be a real valued function of the vector v. Then the derivative of f(v) with respect to v (or at v) is the vector defined through its dot product with any vector u being

 

for all vectors u. The above dot product yields a scalar, and if u is a unit vector gives the directional derivative of f at v, in the u direction.

Properties:

  1. If   then  
  2. If   then  
  3. If   then  

Derivatives of vector valued functions of vectors edit

Let f(v) be a vector valued function of the vector v. Then the derivative of f(v) with respect to v (or at v) is the second order tensor defined through its dot product with any vector u being

 

for all vectors u. The above dot product yields a vector, and if u is a unit vector gives the direction derivative of f at v, in the directional u.

Properties:

  1. If   then  
  2. If   then  
  3. If   then  

Derivatives of scalar valued functions of second-order tensors edit

Let   be a real valued function of the second order tensor  . Then the derivative of   with respect to   (or at  ) in the direction   is the second order tensor defined as

 
for all second order tensors  .

Properties:

  1. If   then  
  2. If   then  
  3. If   then  

Derivatives of tensor valued functions of second-order tensors edit

Let   be a second order tensor valued function of the second order tensor  . Then the derivative of   with respect to   (or at  ) in the direction   is the fourth order tensor defined as

 
for all second order tensors  .

Properties:

  1. If   then  
  2. If   then  
  3. If   then  
  4. If   then  

Gradient of a tensor field edit

The gradient,  , of a tensor field   in the direction of an arbitrary constant vector c is defined as:

 
The gradient of a tensor field of order n is a tensor field of order n+1.

Cartesian coordinates edit

If   are the basis vectors in a Cartesian coordinate system, with coordinates of points denoted by ( ), then the gradient of the tensor field   is given by

 
Proof

The vectors x and c can be written as   and  . Let y := x + αc. In that case the gradient is given by

 

Since the basis vectors do not vary in a Cartesian coordinate system we have the following relations for the gradients of a scalar field  , a vector field v, and a second-order tensor field  .

 

Curvilinear coordinates edit

If   are the contravariant basis vectors in a curvilinear coordinate system, with coordinates of points denoted by ( ), then the gradient of the tensor field   is given by (see [3] for a proof.)

 

From this definition we have the following relations for the gradients of a scalar field  , a vector field v, and a second-order tensor field  .

 

where the Christoffel symbol   is defined using

 

Cylindrical polar coordinates edit

In cylindrical coordinates, the gradient is given by

 

Divergence of a tensor field edit

The divergence of a tensor field   is defined using the recursive relation

 

where c is an arbitrary constant vector and v is a vector field. If   is a tensor field of order n > 1 then the divergence of the field is a tensor of order n− 1.

Cartesian coordinates edit

In a Cartesian coordinate system we have the following relations for a vector field v and a second-order tensor field  .

 

where tensor index notation for partial derivatives is used in the rightmost expressions. Note that

 

For a symmetric second-order tensor, the divergence is also often written as[4]

 

The above expression is sometimes used as the definition of   in Cartesian component form (often also written as  ). Note that such a definition is not consistent with the rest of this article (see the section on curvilinear co-ordinates).

The difference stems from whether the differentiation is performed with respect to the rows or columns of  , and is conventional. This is demonstrated by an example. In a Cartesian coordinate system the second order tensor (matrix)   is the gradient of a vector function  .

 

The last equation is equivalent to the alternative definition / interpretation[4]

 

Curvilinear coordinates edit

In curvilinear coordinates, the divergences of a vector field v and a second-order tensor field   are

 

More generally,

 


Cylindrical polar coordinates edit

In cylindrical polar coordinates

 

Curl of a tensor field edit

The curl of an order-n > 1 tensor field   is also defined using the recursive relation

 
where c is an arbitrary constant vector and v is a vector field.

Curl of a first-order tensor (vector) field edit

Consider a vector field v and an arbitrary constant vector c. In index notation, the cross product is given by

 
where   is the permutation symbol, otherwise known as the Levi-Civita symbol. Then,
 
Therefore,
 

Curl of a second-order tensor field edit

For a second-order tensor  

 
Hence, using the definition of the curl of a first-order tensor field,
 
Therefore, we have
 

Identities involving the curl of a tensor field edit

The most commonly used identity involving the curl of a tensor field,  , is

 
This identity holds for tensor fields of all orders. For the important case of a second-order tensor,  , this identity implies that
 

Derivative of the determinant of a second-order tensor edit

The derivative of the determinant of a second order tensor   is given by

 

In an orthonormal basis, the components of   can be written as a matrix A. In that case, the right hand side corresponds the cofactors of the matrix.

Proof

Let   be a second order tensor and let  . Then, from the definition of the derivative of a scalar valued function of a tensor, we have

 

The determinant of a tensor can be expressed in the form of a characteristic equation in terms of the invariants   using

 

Using this expansion we can write

 

Recall that the invariant   is given by

 

Hence,

 

Invoking the arbitrariness of   we then have

 

Derivatives of the invariants of a second-order tensor edit

The principal invariants of a second order tensor are

 

The derivatives of these three invariants with respect to   are

 
Proof

From the derivative of the determinant we know that

 

For the derivatives of the other two invariants, let us go back to the characteristic equation

 

Using the same approach as for the determinant of a tensor, we can show that

 

Now the left hand side can be expanded as

 

Hence

 
or,
 

Expanding the right hand side and separating terms on the left hand side gives

 

or,

 

If we define   and  , we can write the above as

 

Collecting terms containing various powers of λ, we get

 

Then, invoking the arbitrariness of λ, we have

 

This implies that

 

Derivative of the second-order identity tensor edit

Let   be the second order identity tensor. Then the derivative of this tensor with respect to a second order tensor   is given by

 
This is because   is independent of  .

Derivative of a second-order tensor with respect to itself edit

Let   be a second order tensor. Then

 

Therefore,

 

Here   is the fourth order identity tensor. In index notation with respect to an orthonormal basis

 

This result implies that

 
where
 

Therefore, if the tensor   is symmetric, then the derivative is also symmetric and we get

 
where the symmetric fourth order identity tensor is
 

Derivative of the inverse of a second-order tensor edit

Let   and   be two second order tensors, then

 
In index notation with respect to an orthonormal basis
 
We also have
 
In index notation
 
If the tensor   is symmetric then
 
Proof

Recall that

 

Since  , we can write

 

Using the product rule for second order tensors

 

we get

 
or,
 

Therefore,

 

Integration by parts edit

 
Domain  , its boundary   and the outward unit normal  

Another important operation related to tensor derivatives in continuum mechanics is integration by parts. The formula for integration by parts can be written as

 

where   and   are differentiable tensor fields of arbitrary order,   is the unit outward normal to the domain over which the tensor fields are defined,   represents a generalized tensor product operator, and   is a generalized gradient operator. When   is equal to the identity tensor, we get the divergence theorem

 

We can express the formula for integration by parts in Cartesian index notation as

 

For the special case where the tensor product operation is a contraction of one index and the gradient operation is a divergence, and both   and   are second order tensors, we have

 

In index notation,

 

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ J. C. Simo and T. J. R. Hughes, 1998, Computational Inelasticity, Springer
  2. ^ J. E. Marsden and T. J. R. Hughes, 2000, Mathematical Foundations of Elasticity, Dover.
  3. ^ R. W. Ogden, 2000, Nonlinear Elastic Deformations, Dover.
  4. ^ a b Hjelmstad, Keith (2004). Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 45. ISBN 9780387233307.