2.1 MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES [LO1]

In any scientific or engineering field of study, knowledge of some mathematical techniques and methods are essential. Solid mechanics is no exception. To develop proper formulation methods and solution techniques for elasticity problems, it is necessary to have an appropriate mathematical background. In this chapter, we shall discuss Cartesian tensors, which have a special significance in the discussion of stress, strain, and displacement fields, and their manipulation. Other mathematical details will be discussed as and when they are required in solving different problems.

Tensors may be defined in a number of ways. One simple definition is that a tensor is a physical quantity that is governed by certain transformation laws when the coordinate system is changed. A tensor is invariant under any change of coordinate system, but its components along the coordinate axes change with the changed coordinate system. Tensors of order zero are called scalars. Common examples of scalars are temperature, density, Young's modulus, or Poisson's ratio. They have a single magnitude at each point in space, and they are invariant with coordinate transformations. A typical example of scalars is often taken as temperature T at a point in space with coordinates (x, y, z) represented as T(x, y, z). Temperature at the same point does not change if we choose a different coordinate system (x′, y′, z′) represented as T′(x′, y′, z′) and we may say

T=T′. (2.1.1)

Tensors of first order are vectors, and we know that a vector has a magnitude and a direction. A typical example of a vector is a velocity vector V. It is sometimes taken as a convention to represent a vector by a bold letter. Consider the velocity vector V in (x, y, z) coordinate system.

3.1 STATE OF STRESS AT A POINT [LO1]

When a body is subjected to external forces, its behavior depends on the magnitude and distribution of forces and properties of the body material. Depending on these factors, the body may deform elastically or plastically, or it may fracture. The body may also fail by fatigue when subjected to repetitive loading. Here we are primarily interested in elastic deformation of materials.

In order to establish the concept of stress and stress at a point, let us consider a straight bar of uniform cross-section of area A and subjected to uniaxial force F as shown in Figure 3.1. Stress at a typical section A - A′ is normally given as σ = F/A. This is true only if the force is uniformly distributed over the area A, but this is rarely true. Therefore, definition of stress must be considered by progressively reducing the area until it is small enough such that the force may be considered to be uniformly distributed.

To understand this, consider a body subjected to external forces P1, P2, P3, and P4 as shown in Figure 3.2. If we now cut the body in two pieces,

Internal forces f1, f2, f3, etc. are developed to keep the pieces in equilibrium. Now consider an infinitesimal element of area ΔA Dat the cut section and let the resultant force on the element be Δf.