2 Tensor Notation

It will be convenient in this monograph to use the compact notation often

referred to as indicial or index notation . It allows a strong reduction in the
number of terms in an equation and is commonly used in the current literature when stress, strain, and constitutive equations are discussed. Therefore,
a basic knowledge of the index notation is helpful in studying continuum
mechanics, especially constitutive modelling of materials. With such a notation, the various stress-strain relationships for materials under multi-axial
states of stress can be expressed in a compact form. Thus, greater attention
can be paid to physical principles rather than to the equations themselves.
A short outline of this notation should therefore be given in the following.
In comparison, some expressions or equations shall also be written in symbolic or matrix notation , employing whichever is more convenient for the
derivation or analysis at hand, but taking care to establish the interrelationship between the two distinct notations.

2.1 Cartesian Tensors

We consider vectors and tensors in three-dimensional E UCLIDean space.
For simplicity, rectangular Cartesian coordinates xi , i = 1, 2, 3, are used
throughout. Results may, if desired, be expressed in terms of curvlinear coordinate systems by standard techniques of tensor analysis (B ETTEN, 1987c),
as has been pointed out in Section 2.2 and used in Chapter 5.
In a rectangular Cartesian coordinate system, a vector V can be decomposed in the following three components
V = (V1 , V2 , V3 ) = V1 e1 + V2 e2 + V3 e3 ,

(2.1)

where e1 , e2 , e3 are unit base vectors:

ei ej = ij .

(2.2)

10

2 Tensor Notation

In 2.2 the Symbol ij is known as K RONECKERs delta. Thus, the set of unit
vectors, {ei }, constitutes an orthonormal basis .
A very useful notational device in the manipulation of matrix, vector,
and tensor expressions is the summation convention introduced by E INSTEIN
(1916):
Whenever an index occurs twice in the same term, summation over
the values 1, 2, and 3 of that index is automatically assumed, and the
summation sign is omitted.
Thus, the decomposition (2.1) can be written in the more compact form
V = Vi ei Vk ek .

(2.1*)

The repeated index i or k in (2.1*) is often called summation index or dummy

index because the choice of the letter for this index is immaterial. However,
we have to notice that an index must not appear more than twice in the same
term of an expression or equation. Otherwise, there is a mistake. An expression such as Aijk Bkk would be meaningless.
Consider a sum in which one of the repeated indices is on the K RO NECKER delta, for example,
ik Aij = 1k A1j + 2k A2j + 3k A3j .
Only one term in this sum does not vanish, namely the term in which
i = k = 1, 2, 3. Consequently, the sum reduces to
ik Aij = Akj .
A similar example is: ij Vj = Vi . Notice that the summation, involving one
index of the K RONECKER delta and one of another factor, has the effect of
substituting the free index of the delta for the repeated index of the other
factor. For this reason the K RONECKER delta could be called substitution
tensor (B ETTEN, 1987c).
Another example of the summation convention is the scalar product (dot
product, inner product) of two vectors U and V . It can be written as
U V = U1 V 1 + U2 V 2 + U3 V 3 Uk V k .
Note that the expression
(Aii )2 (A11 + A22 + A33 )2

(2.3)

2.1 Cartesian Tensors

11

is different from the sum

A2ii A211 + A222 + A233 ,
where the rst one is the square of the sum Aii , while the second one is the
sum of the squares.
The vector product (cross product) has the following form:




 e1 e2 e3 




(2.4a)
C = A B = A1 A2 A3  ijk ei Aj Bk .




B1 B2 B3 
Its components are given by
Ci = ijk Aj Bk .

(2.4b)

In (2.4a,b) the alternating symbol ijk (also known as permutation symbol

or third-order alternating tensor) is used. It is dened as:

= +1 if ijk represents an even permutation of 123 ;

ijk = 0
(2.5)
if any two of ijk indices are equal ;

= 1 if ijk represents an odd permutation of 123 .

It follows from this denition that ijk has the symmetry properties
ijk = jki = kij = ikj = jik = kji .
The triple scalar product can also be
symbol:


A1 A2


(A B) C = B1 B2


C1 C2

(2.6)

calculated by using the alternating



A3 


B3  = ijk Ai Bj Ck .


C3 

(2.7)

The following relation between the K RONECKER delta and the alternating tensor is very important and useful (B ETTEN, 1987c):




 ip iq ir 




(2.8)
ijk pqr =  jp jq jr  3! i[p] j[q] k[r] ,




kp kq kr 

12

2 Tensor Notation

where on the right-hand side the operation of alternation is used. This process is indicated by placing square brackets around those indices to which
it applies, that is, the three indices pqr are permutated in all possible ways.
Thus, we obtain 3! terms. The terms corresponding to even permutations are
given a plus sign, those which correspond to odd permutations a minus sign,
and they are then added and divided by 3!.
From (2.8) we immediately obtain the contraction
ijk pqk = ip jq iq jp ,

(2.9a)

for instance, i.e., the tensor of rank six in (2.8) is reduced to the fourth-order
tensor (2.9a). Other contractions are
pqi pqj = 2ij

and

pqr pqr = 6 ,

(2.9b,c)

for instance.
Now let us consider a coordinate transformation, i.e., we introduce a new
rectangular right-handed Cartesian coordinate system and new base vectors
ei , i = 1, 2, 3. The new system may be regarded as having been derived
from the old by a rigid rotation of the triad of coordinate axes about the same
origin. Let a vector V have components Vi in the original coordinate system
and components Vi in the new system. Thus, one can write:
V = Vi ei = Vi ei .

(2.10)

We denote by aij the cosine of the angle between ei and ej , so that

aij cos(ei , ej ) = ei ej ,

(2.11)

i.e., aij are the direction cosines of ei relative to the rst coordinate system,
or, equivalently, aij are the components of the new base vectors ei , in the
rst system. Thus
ei = aij ej .
(2.12)
It is geometrically evident that the nine quantities aij are not independent.
Since ei are mutually perpendicular unit vectors,
ei ej = ij ,
we arrive at
ei ej = aip ep ajr er = aip ajr ep er = aip ajr pr = aip ajp

(2.13)

2.1 Cartesian Tensors

13

by considering (2.2) and (2.12). Hence

aip ajp = ij

or in matrix notation aat = ,

(2.14a)

where at is the transpose of the matrix a. Because of the symmetry ij = ji ,

the result (2.14a) represents a set of six relations between the nine quantities
aij . Similarly to (2.14a), we nd:
api apj = ij

or in matrix notation at a = .

(2.14b)

It follows immediately from (2.14a,b) that |aij | = 1 and, furthermore,

that the transpose at is identical to the inverse a1 . Thus, the matrix a is
orthogonal, and the reciprocal relation to (2.12) is
ei = aji ej .

(2.15)

Inserting (2.15) or (2.12) into (2.10), we arrive at

Vi = aij Vj

or

Vi = aji Vj ,

(2.16a,b)

respectively. In particular, if V is the position vector x of the point P relative

to the origin, then
xi = aij xj

and xi = aji xj ,

(2.17a,b)

where xi and xi are the coordinates of the point P in the new and original
coordinate systerns, respectively.
Now, let us consider a vector function
Y = f (X)

or in index notation: Yi = fi (Xp ) ,

(2.18a,b)

where X is the argument vector which is transformed to another vector Y .

The simplest form is a linear transformation
Yi = Tij Xj ,

(2.19)

where Tij are the cartesian components of a second-order tensor T , also

called second-rank tensor , i.e., a second-order tensor can be interpreted as a
linear operator which transforms a vector X into an image vector Y .
In extension of the law (2.16a,b), the components of a second-order tensor T transform according to the rule
Tij = aip ajq Tpq

or

Tij = api aqj Tpq

,

(2.20a,b)

14

2 Tensor Notation

which can be expressed in matrix notation:

T = aT at

or

T = at T a .

(2.21a,b)

Second-rank tensors play a central role in continuum mechanics, for instance, strain and stress tensors are second-order tensors. It is sometimes
useful in continuum mechanics, especially in the theory of plasticity or in
creep mechanics, to decompose a tensor into the sum of its deviator and a
spherical tensor as follows:
Tij = Tij + Tkk ij /3 .

(2.22)

For instance, the stress deviator


:= ij kk ij /3
ij

(2.23)

is responsible for the change of shape (distortion ), while the hydrostatic

stress kk ij /3 produces volume change without change of shape in an
isotropic continuum, i.e., in a material with the same material properties in
all directions. Clearly, a uniform all-around pressure should merely decrease
the volume of a sphere of material with the same strength in all directions.
However, if the sphere were weaker in one direction, that diameter would be
changed more than others. Thus, hydrostatic pressure can produce a change
of shape in anisotropic materials.
The deviator (2.23) is often called a traceless tensor , since its trace
 is identical to zero.
tr  kk
A second-order tensor has three irreducible invariants
J1 ij Tji = Tjj Tkk ,

(2.24a)

J2 Ti[i] Tj[j] = (Tij Tji Tii Tjj )/2 ,

(2.24b)

J3 Ti[i] Tj[j] Tk[k] = det(Tij ) |Tij | ,

(2.24c)

which are scalar quantities appearing in the characteristic equation

det(ij Tij ) = 3 J1 2 J2 J3 = 0 .

(2.25)

In (2.24b,c) the operation of alternation is used and indicated by placing

square brackets around those indices to which it applies. This process is already illustrated in the context with (2.8).
We read from (2.24a,b,c): The rst (linear) invariant J1 is the trace of T ,
the second (quadratic) invariant J2 is dened as the negative sum of the three

2.1 Cartesian Tensors

15

principal minors of order 2, while the third (cubic) invariant is given by the
determinant of the tensor. A deviator has only two non-vanishing invariants:
J2 = Tij Tji /2 ,

J3 = det(Tij ) .

(2.26a,b)

Remark: Because of the denition (2.24b) the second invariant (2.26a) of

the deviator is always positive. Therefore, J2 is dened as the negative sum
of the principal minors in this text.
The invariants (2.24a,b,c) can be expressed through the principal values
TI , TII , TIII of the Tensor T , i.e., the elementary symmetric functions of
the three arguments TI , . . . , TIII are related to the irreducible invariants
(2.24a,b,c) as follows:
TI + TII + TIII = J1 ,
TI TII + TII TIII + TIII TI = J2 ,
TI TII TIII = J3 .

(2.27a)
(2.27b)
(2.27c)

After some manipulation one can arrive from (2.22), (2.24), and (2.26) at
the relations
1
J2 = J2 + J12 ,
3

1
2
J3 = J3 + J1 J2 + J13 .
3
27

(2.28a,b)

In the theory of invariants the H AMILTON -C AYLEY theorem plays an

important role. It states that
(3)

(2)

Tij J1 Tij J2 Tij J3 ij = 0ij ,

(3)

(2.29)

(2)

where Tij Tip Tpr Trj and Tij Tip Tpj are, respectively, the third and
the second power of the tensor T . Thus, every second-order tensor (linear
operator ) satises its own characteristic equation (2.25). B ETTEN (1987c;
2001c) has proposed extended characteristic polynomials in order to nd
irreducible invariants for fourth-order tensors (Section 4.3.2).
By analogy with (2.19), a fourth-order tensor A, having 81 components
Aijkl , can be interpreted as a linear operator:
Yij = Aijkl Xkl

(2.30)

where Xkl and Yij are the cartesian components of the second-rank tensors
X and Y . For example, the constitutive equation
ij = Eijkl kl

(2.31)

16

2 Tensor Notation

describes the mechanical behavior of an anisotropic linear-elastic material,

where ij are the components of C AUCHYs stress tensor, ij are the components of the innitesimal strain tensor, and Eijkl are the components (elatic
constants) of the fourth-order material tensor characterising the anisotropy
of the material.

2.2 General Bases

In the foregoing Section we have introduced an orthonormal basis {ei } characterized by (2.2), i.e., we have restricted ourselves to rectangular cartesian
coordinates. This is the simplest way to formulate the basic equations of
continuum mechanics and the constitutive or evolutional equations of various materials. However, solving particular problems, it may be preferable
to work in terms of more suitable coordinate systems and their associated
bases.
In particular, cylindrical polar coordinates are useful for congurations
which are symmetric about an axis, e.g., thick-walled tubes in Chapter 5. Another example is the system of spherical polar coordinates, which should be
preferred when there is some symmetry about a point. Thus, it is useful to express the basic equations of continuum mechanics and the constitutive laws
of several materials in terms of general (most curvlinear) coordinates. Thus,
in the following some fundamentals of curvlinear tensor calculus should be
discussed.
Let
xi = xi ( p ) i = i (xp )
(2.32)
be an admissible transformation of coordinates with JACOBIans
J |xi / j | and

K | i /xj | ,

which does not vanish at any point of the considered region, then JK = 1.
Further important properties of admissible coordinate transformations are
discussed, for instance, by S OKOLNIKOFF (1964) and B ETTEN (1974) in
more detail.
The coordinates xi in (2.32) referred to a right-handed orthogonal cartesian system of axes dene a three-dimensional E UCLIDean space , while
the i are curvlinear coordinates . Because of the admissible transformation (2.32), each set of values of xi corresponds a unique set of values of
i , and vice versa. The values i therefore determine points in the dened
three-dimensional E UCLIDean space. Hence we may represent our space by

2.2 General Bases

17

the variables i instead by the cartesian system xi , but the space remains, of
course, E UCLIDean.
In this Section, we consider symbols characterized by one or several indices which may be either subscripts or superscripts, such as Ai , Ai , Bij ,
B ij , Bji , etc., where indices as superscripts are not taken as powers. Sometimes it is necessary to indicate the order of the indices when subscripts and
superscripts occur together. In that case, for example, we write Aij where
the dot before j indicates that j is the second index while i is the rst one.
As explained later, the values Ai and Ai can be considered as the covariant and the contravariant components , respectively, of the vector A.
However, the position of the indices on the kernel letters x and in the
transformation of coordinates (2.32) has nothing to do with covariance or
contravariance and is therefore immaterial. In this context we refer to the
following remarks of other authors:
F UNG (1965, p38): The differential d i is a contravariant vector, the set of variables i itself does not transform like a vector.
Hence, in this instance, the position of the index of i must be
regarded as without signicance.
G REEN /Z ERNA (1968, pp5/6): The differentials di transform
according to the law for contravariant tensors, so that the position of the upper index is justied. The variables i themselves
are in general neither contravariant nor covariant and the position
of their index must be recognized as an exception. In future the index in non-tensors will be placed either above or below according
to convenience. For example, we shall use either i or i .
G REEN /A DKINS (1970, p1): The position of the index on coordinates xi , yi and i is immaterial and it is convenient to use either
upper or lower indices. The differential involving general curvilinear coordinates will always be denoted by di since di has a
different meaning and is not a differential. For rectangular coordinates, however, we use either dxi , dxi for differentials, since
dxi = dxi .
M ALVERN (1969, p603): Warning: Although the differentials
dxm are tensor components, the curvilinear coordinates xm are
not, since the coordinate transformations are general functional
transformations and not the linear homogeneous transformations
required for tensor components.
According to the above remarks, it is immaterial, if we write i or
i . Since the differentials d i transform corresponding to the law for con-

18

2 Tensor Notation

travariant tensors, the position of the upper index, i , is justied. Thus, the
differential dT of a stationary scalar eld T = T ( i ) should be written as
dT = (T / i )d i .
The position of a point P can be determined by xi or, alternatively, by i
as illustrated in Fig.2.1.
g3

x3


P
e3

R
e2

g2
g1

x2

e1

x1
Fig. 2.1 Orthonormal and covariant base vectors

The position vector R of any point P (xi ) can be decomposed in the form
R = xk ek .

(2.33)

Since the orthonormal base vectors ei are independent of the position of the
point P (xi ), we deduce from (2.33) that
R/xi = ek (xk /xi ) = ek ki = ei ,

(2.34)

i.e., the orthonormal base vectors can be expressed by partial derivatives of

the position vector R with respect to the rectangular cartesian coordinates
xi .
Analogous to (2.34), we nd




(2.35)
R i = (R /xp ) xp i = ep xp i = g i ,
i.e., the geometrical meaning of the vector R/ i is simple: it is a base vector directed tangentially to the i -coordinate curve. From (2.35) we observe

2.2 General Bases

19

that the covariant base vectors g i are no longer independent of the coordinates i , in contrast to the orthonormal base vectors. Furthermore, they need
not be mutually perpendicular or of unit length.
The inverse form to (2.35) is given by
ei R/xi = (R/ p ) ( p /xi ) = g p ( p /xi ) .

(2.36)

Besides the covariant base vectors dened in (2.35), (2.36), a set of contravariant base vectors g i is obtained from the constant unit vectors ei ei
as follows


(2.37)
g i = i xp ep ei = (xi / p ) g p .
This set of contravariant base vectors, g i , are often called the dual or reciprocal basis of the covariant basis g i , and they are denoted by superscripts.
In the special case of rectangular cartesian coordinates, the covariant and
contravariant base vectors are identical (ei ei ).
From (2.35), (2.37) and considering the orthonormal condition we arrive
at the relation
g i g j = ij ij .

(2.38)

between the two bases. For example, the contravariant base vector g 1 is orthogonal to the two covariant vectors g 2 and g 3 . Since these vectors directed
tangentially to the 2 - and 3 -curves, the contravariant base vector g 1 is perpendicular to the 1 -surface (Fig.2.2).


 -surface
e2
e3


 -curve


 -surface

g2

e1

g3

xi = xi( )

 -curve

orthonormal basis
ei ej = dij

 -curve


g1

covariant basis
gi gj = gij

Fig. 2.2 Coordinate surfaces and base vectors

 -surface

20

2 Tensor Notation

In addition to the relation (2.38) one can form the following scalar products:
g i g j gij ,

g i g j g ij .

(2.39a,b)

These quantities, gij and g ij , are called the covariant and contravariant metric tensors , respectively, and, because of (2.38), the K RONECKER tensor
ji can be interpreted as a mixed metric tensor . The metric tensors (2.38),
(2.39a,b) are symmetric since the scalar products of two vectors are commutative.
Inserting the base vectors (2.35) or (2.37) into (2.39a,b), respectively, we
can express the covariant or contravariant metric tensors as

gij = xk / i xk / j

g ij = i /xk j /xk ,
(2.40a,b)

from which we immediately arrive at the reciprocal relation

gik g jk = ij .

(2.41)

This result represents a system of linear equations from which the contravariant metric tensor can be calculated accordingly
g ij = Gij /g

with Gij (1)i+j U (gij ) ,

(2.42)

when the covariant metric tensor is given, where Gij is the cofactor of the
element gij in the determinant g |gij |. From the reciprocal relation (2.41)
we deduce the determinant of the contravariant metric tensor as |g ij | = 1/g.
The magnitudes of the covariant and contravariant base vectors follow
directly from (2.39a,b):

 i 


(i)
i


|g i | = g i g (i) = gi(i) ,
g = g g = g i(i) , (2.43a,b)
where the index is not summed, as indicated by parentheses.
An increment dR of the position vector R in Fig.2.1 can be decomposed
in the following ways
dR = ei dxi = g i d i = g i di .
Forming the scalar product

(2.44)

2.2 General Bases

21

g j ei dxi = g j g i d i = ij d i = d j ,
and then inserting (2.37), we nd the transformation

d j = j /xp ep ei dxi = j /xp dxp
or

d i = i /xp dxp ,

(2.45a)

i.e., the d i in (2.44) transforms contravariant (matrix i /xp ) and can be

identied with the usual total differential of the variable i , so that the use of
upper index is justied.
In a similar way one can nd the covariant transformation



di = xp i dxp ,
(2.45b)
which essentially differs from (2.45a) and cannot be interpreted as the total
differential.
Using (2.44) with (2.39a,b) the square of the line element ds can be written in the form
ds2 = dR dR = dxk dxk = gij d i d j = g ij di dj .

(2.46)

Hence, the reason for the term metric tensor gij is account for. In addition
to (2.46), the mixed form ds2 = dk d k is also possible. This form follows
immediately from (2.46) because of the rule of raising (g ij Aj = Ai ) and
lowering (gij Aj = Ai ) the indices.
Considering the decompositions of two vectors
A = Ak g k = Ak g k ,

B = B k g k = Bk g k ,

(2.47a,b)

we then can represent the scalar product in the following forms

A B = gij Ai B j = Ak Bk = Ak B k = g ij Ai Bj ,
from which we can determine the length of a vector B A as




|A| A = gij Ai Aj = Ak Ak = Ak Ak = g ij Ai Aj .

(2.48)

(2.49)

Alternatively, the scalar product (2.48) can be expressed by AB cos , so that

the angle between two vectors can be calculated from the following formula:
cos = gij Ai B j /(AB) .

(2.50)

22

2 Tensor Notation

In particular, the angle 12 between the 1 -curve and 2 -curve, i.e., between
the covariant base vectors g 1 and g 2 in Fig.2.2 can be determined in the
following way

g 1 g 2 g12
g12
 
cos 12 =
,
(2.51a)
g
11 g12
|g1 ||g 2 | cos 12
where the relations (2.39a) and (2.43a) have been used. Cyclic permutations
yield
g23
g31
cos 23 =
and cos 31 =
.
(2.51b,c)
g22 g33
g33 g11
From the result (2.51a,b,c) we deduce the following theorem:
A necessary and sufcient condition that a given curvlinear coordinate system be orthogonal is that the gij vanish for i = j at
every point in a region considered, i.e., the matrix (gij ) has the
diagonal form.
According to (2.47a), there are two decompositions of a vector A: The
contravariant components Ak are the components of A in the directions of
the covariant base vectors g k , while the covariant components Ak are the
components of A corresponding with the contravariant base vectors g k , as
illustrated in Fig.2.3.

A
A2 g

A g2
1

g2

g2

A g1
g1
g1

A1 g 1

Fig. 2.3 Decomposition of a vector in covariant and contravariant components

A relation between the covariant and contravariant components, Ai and

Ai , can be achieved by forming the scalar products of (2.47a), respectively,
with the base vectors g i and g i according to

2.2 General Bases

Ai = gik Ak

and

Ai = g ik Ak .

23

(2.52a,b)

These results express the rule of lowering and raising the indices , respectively. This operation can also be applied to the base vectors in order to nd
relations between the covariant and contravariant bases :
g i = gik g k

and

g i = g ik g k .

(2.53a,b)

Comparing the decompositions (2.47a) with the decompositions

A = Ak ek Ak ek

(2.54)

with respect to the orthonormal basis ek ek , and considering (2.36), (2.37),

one arrives at the folllowing relations between the covariant or contravariant
components, Ai or Ai , and the cartesian components Ak Ak of the vector
A:



Ai = xp i Ap ,

Ai = i /xp Ap .

(2.55a,b)

We see in (2.55a,b) the same transformation matrices (xp / i ) and

( i /xp ), respectively, as in (2.35) and (2.37).
In the tensor analysis the Nabla operator , sometimes called del operator , plays a fundamental role. It is a differential operator, and can be
decomposed with respect to the orthonormal basis:
= ei i ei

.
xi

(2.56a)

Substituting ei ei in (2.56a) by (2.37), and utilizing the chain rule

p

=
,
xi
xi p
we nd the decomposition of the Nabla operator with respect to the contravariant basis:

= gk k .
(2.56b)

The divergence of a vector eld A is dened as the scalar product of the

Nabla operator (2.56b) and the vector (2.47a):

24

2 Tensor Notation

j
div A = A = Ai / i + Ai .ij
Ai |i .

(2.57)

k in (2.57) are called the C HRISTOFFEL symbols of the secThe functions T.ij
ond kind . They are the coefcients in the following decompositions
 
k
j
k
g k = ijk g k ,
(2.58a)
g i / .ij g k
ij
 
i
i
gk
gk .
(2.58b)
g i / j .kj
kj

Because of the denition (2.58a), and considering (2.35), (2.36), the C HRISTOF FEL symbols of the second kind can be expressed in the form
k
.ij
=

k 2 xp
.
xp i j

(2.59a)

They are symmetric with respect to the lower indices (i, j) and can be related
to the metric tensors in the following way
 
 


k
1 
k

= g kl gil j + gjl i gij l . (2.59b)

.ij
2
ij
In addition, the C HRISTOFFEL symbols of the rst kind are given by




1
gik j + gjk i gij k .
2
(2.60)
k in agreeComparing the two sets (2.59b) and (2.60), we read g kl lij .ij
ment with the rule of raising the indices.
Evidently there are n = 3 distinct C HRISTOFFEL symbols of each kind
for each independent gij , and, since the number of independent gij s is
kij [ij, k] = [ji, k] =

n(n + 1)/2 ,
the number of independent C HRISTOFFEL symbols is
n2 (n + 1)/2 .
Note that the C HRISTOFFEL symbols, in general, are not tensors. This is
valid also for the partial derivatives Ai / j and Ai / j with respect to
curvlinear coordinates.

2.2 General Bases

25

However, the derivative

A/ j = Ai |j g i = Ai |j g i

(2.61)

is a tensor, where the expressions

i
Ai |j Ai / j + Ak .kj

and

k
Ai |j Ai / j Ak .ij

(2.62a,b)

are the covariant derivatives of the contravariant and covariant vector components, respectively. These derivatives transform like the components of a
second-rank-tensor. The trace of (2.62a) immediately yields the divergence
(2.57).
Let the vector A in (2.61) be the gradient of a scalar eld. We then have


(2.63)
A j = () j = Tij g i ,
where
Tij = Tji =

2
k
.ij
,i | j
i
j

k

(2.64)

is a symmetric second-rank covariant tensor.

The L APLACE operator is dened as = div grad . Using (2.56b),
(2.57), (2.58), (2.39b), and the abbreviation (2.64), the following relation is
obtained:
 


i
k
g
= g ij Tij g ij ,i | j . (2.65)
= = g
i
k
The gradient of a vector A is formed by the dyadic product of the Nabla
operator (2.56b) and the eld vector (2.47a) in connection with (2.62a,b):


 j
i

j
i
i j
T A= g

A
g
=
A
i
j g g i Tj g g i
j
(2.66a)



T A = g j j Ai g i = Ai | j g j g i Tij g j g i .

(2.66b)
In contrast to (2.64), the tensor Tij Ai |j in (2.66b) is not symmetric.
From the representations (2.66a,b) we read that the mixed components Tji
and the covariant components Tij of dyadic T A are identical with
the covariant derivatives (2.62a,b), respectively.

26

2 Tensor Notation

In curvlinear coordinates, the constitutive equation (2.31) of the linear

theory of elasticity should be expressed in the form
ij = E ijkl kl ,

(2.67)

where the innitesimal strain tensor is formed by covariant derivatives

from the displacement vector w according to
ij = ( wi | j + wj | i ) /2 .

(2.68)

In the absence of body forces the divergence of the stress tensor must be
equal to zero. Thus, the equations of equilibrium are then given by
ij |i = 0j .

(2.69)

Note that for applications in solid mechanics the physical components of

the tensors ij , ij and wi , used in (2.67), (2.68), (2.69), have to be calculated
accordingly to



ij = ij g(ii) g(jj) , ij = ij g (ii) g (jj) , ui = wi g (ii) , (2.70a,b,c)
where the bracketed indices should not be summed.
Considering a vector (2.47a) the components of which, A1 g 1 , A2 g 2 ,
A3 g 3 , form the edges of the parallelepiped whose diagonal is A. Since the
g i are not unit vectors in general, we see that the lengths of edges of this
parallelepiped, or the physical components of A, are determined by the expressions

A1 g11 ,

A2 g22 ,

A3 g33 ,

since g11 = g 1 g 1 , . . . , g33 = g 3 g 3 .

As an example, let us introduce cylindrical coordinates
x1 = 1 cos 2 ,

x2 = 1 sin 2 ,

x3 = 3 ,

(2.71)

where 1 r, 2 and 3 z. The covariant base vectors (2.35) are

then given by

g 1 = e1 cos + e2 sin ,

g 2 = e1 r sin + e2 r cos ,
(2.72a)

g 3 = e3 ,
while the contravariant base vectors (2.37) are immediately found according
to

2.2 General Bases

g1 = g1 ,


g2 = g 2 r2 ,

g3 = g3 .

27

(2.72b)

Since the cylindrical coordinates (2.71) are orthogonal, the metric tensors
(2.39a,b), (2.40a,b) have the diagonal forms

1 0 0
1 0 0

g ij = 0 1/r2 0 ,
(2.73a,b)
gij = 0 r2 0 ,

0 0 1
0 0 1
while the nonvanishing C HRISTOFFEL symbols (2.59a,b), (2.60) are given
by
1
2
122 [12, 2] = .22
= r, 221 [21, 2] = [12, 2] = r, .12
= 1/r.
(2.74)

Taking the covariant derivative (2.62b) into account, the tensor (2.68) can
also be represented in the following way




k
ij = wi j + wj i /2 wk .ij
.
(2.75)
The physical components (2.70c) of the displacement vector are in cylindrical coordinates because of (2.42b) very simple:
u r = w1 ,

u = w2 /r ,

u z = w3 ,

and, likewise, we calculate from (2.70b) the physical components


= 22 /r2 ,
z = 33 ,
r = 11 ,
r = 12 /r ,

rz = 13 ,

z = 32 /r ,

(2.76)

(2.77)

of the innitesimal strain tensor, so that we nally arrive at the following

components

r = ur /r , = (u / + ur ) /r , z = uz /z ,

r = [(ur / ) /r + u /r u /r ] /2 ,
(2.78)

rz = (ur /z + uz /r)/2 ,

z = [(uz / ) /r + u /z ] /2 ,
by considering (2.74), (2.75), and (2.76).
Finally, the physical components of the stress tensor are deduced from
(2.70a):

28

2 Tensor Notation

r = 11 ,
r = r 12 ,

= r2 22 ,
z = r 23 ,


z = 33 ,

(2.79)

zr = 31 ,

so that we arrive from (2.69) by considering


j
i
Aij |k = Aij k + .kp
Apj + .kp
Aip

(2.80)

and (2.74) at the equations of equilibrium

r /r + (r / ) /r + zr /z + (r ) /r = 0 ,

r /r + ( / ) /r + z /z + 2r /r = 0 ,
zr /r + (z / ) /r + z /z + zr /r = 0 .

(2.81)

For isotropic materials the fourth-order elasticity tensor in (2.31) has the
form
(2.82a)
Eijkl = ij kl + (ik jl + il jk ) ,
while the material tensor in (2.67) is represented by


E ijkl = g ij g kl + g ik g jl + g il g jk ,

(2.82b)

so that we nd from (2.67) in connection with (2.77) and (2.79) the following
constitutive equations:

r = 2r + (r + + z ) ,
= 2 + (r + + z ) ,
z = 2z + (r + + z ) ,
r = 2r ,

z = 2z ,

zr = 2zr

(2.83)

According (2.65) together with (2.64), the L APLACE operator is dened

in general. In the special case of cylindrical coordinates with (2.73a,b), (2.74)
this operator takes the form
=

2
2
1 2
1
+
+
+
,
r2 r2 2 r r z 2

(2.84)

which occurs as a differential, for example, in the L APLACE or P OISSON

equation. These partial differential equations are fundamental for many applications in continuum mechanic.
In the representation theory of tensor functions the irreducible basic invariants

2.2 General Bases

S1 = ij Aji ,

S2 = Aij Aji ,

S3 = Aij Ajk Aki

or, alternatively, the irreducible main invariants

J1 S1 , J2 = S2 S12 /2 ,
J3 =

29

(2,85a,b,c)

(2.86a,b)

2S3 3S2 S1 + S13

6

(2.86c)

play a central role, since they form an integrity basis . In (2,85a,b,c) the Aij
are the components of the tensor A with respect to the orthonormal basis
ei . The invariants (2,85a,b,c), e.g., can be expressed in terms of covariant or
contravariant components of the tensor A. To do this we need the following
transformations
Aij =

xp xq
Apq
i j

p q
Aij =
Apq ,
xi xj

(2.87)

Aij =

i j
Apq
xp xq

xi xj
Aij = p q Apq ,

(2.88)

and

which are extended forms of (2.35), (2.36), and (2.37). Inserting the transformation (2.87) in (2,85a,b,c) and considering (2.40a,b), we nally nd the
irreducible basic invariants in the following forms:
S1 = g pq Apq = gpq Apq = Akk ,

(2.89a)

S2 = g ip g jq Aji Apq = gip gjq Aji Apq = Aik Aki ,

S3 = g g g Aij Aqk Arp = =
ip jq kr

Aij Ajk Aki

(2.89b)
(2.89c)

and then the main invariants (2.86a,b,c) also in terms of covariant, contravariant or mixed tensor components.
A lot of tensor operations are included in the MAPLE tensor package.
Examples are illustrated in the following MAPLE program, where the metric
tensors and the C HRISTOFFEL symbols have been calculated for cylindrical
and spherical coordinates

2 1.mws
>
with(tensor):
cylindrical_coord:=[r,phi,z]:
covariant metric tensor:
>
g_compts:=array(symmetric,sparse,1..3,1..3):
>

30

2 Tensor Notation
>
>
>

>
>
>

g_compts[1,1]:=1: g_compts[2,2]:=r2:
g_compts[3,3]:=1:
g:=create([-1,-1], eval(g_compts));

1 0 0
g := table([compts = 0 r2 0 , index char = [1, 1]])
0 0 1
D1g:=d1metric(g,cylindrical_coord):
Gamma[kij]:=[ijk];
CHRISTOFFEL[first_kind][cylindrical]:=

Gamma[kij]=Christoffel1(D1g):
kij := [ijk ]
The results are printed as a list on the CD-ROM. They are identical
to those values in (2.74).
>
spherical_coord:=[r,phi,theta]:
covariant metric tensor:
>
g_compts:=array(symmetric,sparse,1..3,1..3):
>
g_compts[1,1]:=1: g_compts[2,2]:=r2:
>
g_compts[3,3]:=(r*sin(phi))2:
>
g:=create([-1,-1], eval(g_compts));

1 0
0
, index char = [1, 1]])
0
g := table([compts = 0 r2
2
2
0 0 r sin()
>
D1g:=d1metric(g,spherical_coord):
>
Gamma[kij]:=[ijk];
>

>

CHRISTOFFEL[first_kind][spherical]:=

Gamma[kij]=Christoffel1(D1g):
kij := [ijk ]
The results are printed as a list on the CD-ROM. In a similar way one can
nd the C HRISTOFFEL symbols of the second kind.
>

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