Chapter 1

A First Course in Continuum Mechanics · 21 exercises

Problem 1

Given the vectors \(\boldsymbol{a}=1 \boldsymbol{i}+2 \boldsymbol{j}+3 \boldsymbol{k}, \boldsymbol{b}=1 \boldsymbol{i}+3 \boldsymbol{j}-2 \boldsymbol{k}\) and \(c=-2 i-1 j+0 k\), calculate: (a) \(a \cdot b\) (b) \(a \times b\) (c) \(a \cdot b \times c\) (d) \(\boldsymbol{a} \times(\boldsymbol{b} \times \boldsymbol{c})\), (e) \((\boldsymbol{a} \times \boldsymbol{b}) \times \boldsymbol{c}\).

5 step solution

Problem 2

Given a plane \(\Pi\) with normal \(\boldsymbol{n}=1 i-2 j+1 \boldsymbol{k}\) and the vector \(\boldsymbol{v}=3 \boldsymbol{i}+4 \boldsymbol{j}-2 \boldsymbol{k}\), calculate: (a) the projection of \(\boldsymbol{v}\) onto \(\Pi\), (b) the reflection of \(v\) with respect to \(\Pi\).

3 step solution

Problem 3

Calculate \(\delta_{i j} \delta_{i j}\) using the rules of index notation and the definition of the Kronecker delta.

4 step solution

Problem 4

Suppose a vector \(v\) satisfies the linear equation $$ \alpha \boldsymbol{v}+\boldsymbol{v} \times \boldsymbol{a}=\boldsymbol{b} $$ where \(\alpha \neq 0\) is a given scalar, and \(a\) and \(b\) are given vectors. Use the dot and cross product operations to solve the above equation for \(v .\) In particular, show that the unique solution is given by $$ v=\frac{\alpha^{2} b-\alpha(b \times a)+(b \cdot a) a}{\alpha\left(\alpha^{2}+|a|^{2}\right)} $$

9 step solution

Problem 7

Given two vectors \(\boldsymbol{a}\) and \(\boldsymbol{b}\), and a second-order tensor \(\boldsymbol{S}\), prove: (a) \(\boldsymbol{S}(\boldsymbol{a} \otimes \boldsymbol{b})=(\boldsymbol{S a}) \otimes \boldsymbol{b}\), (b) \((\boldsymbol{a} \otimes \boldsymbol{b}) \boldsymbol{S}=\boldsymbol{a} \otimes\left(\boldsymbol{S}^{T} \boldsymbol{b}\right)\) (c) \((\boldsymbol{a} \otimes \boldsymbol{b})^{T}=(\boldsymbol{b} \otimes \boldsymbol{a})\) Hint: Recall that two second-order tensors \(\boldsymbol{A}\) and \(\boldsymbol{B}\) are equal if and only if \(\boldsymbol{A} \boldsymbol{v}=\boldsymbol{B} \boldsymbol{v}\) for all \(\boldsymbol{v} \in \mathcal{V}\).

4 step solution

Problem 8

Consider any three vectors \(\boldsymbol{a}, \boldsymbol{b}\) and \(\boldsymbol{c}\) which are linearly independent, that is, \((a \times \boldsymbol{b}) \cdot \boldsymbol{c} \neq 0\). Show that: (a) \(\boldsymbol{a} \times \boldsymbol{b}, \boldsymbol{b} \times \boldsymbol{c}\) and \(\boldsymbol{c} \times \boldsymbol{a}\) are also linearly independent, (b) \((\boldsymbol{a} \times \boldsymbol{b}) \otimes \boldsymbol{c}+(\boldsymbol{b} \times \boldsymbol{c}) \otimes \boldsymbol{a}+(\boldsymbol{c} \times \boldsymbol{a}) \otimes \boldsymbol{b}=(\boldsymbol{a} \times \boldsymbol{b} \cdot \boldsymbol{c}) \boldsymbol{I}\).

3 step solution

Problem 9

A second-order tensor \(\boldsymbol{P}\) is a perpendicular projection if \(\boldsymbol{P}\) is symmetric and \(\boldsymbol{P}^{2}=\boldsymbol{P}\). Given two arbitrary unit vectors \(n \neq m\), determine which of the following are perpendicular projections: (a) \(P=I\), (b) \(\boldsymbol{P}=\boldsymbol{n} \otimes \boldsymbol{m}\), (c) \(\boldsymbol{P}=\boldsymbol{n} \otimes \boldsymbol{n}\), (d) \(P=I-n \otimes n\), (e) \(\boldsymbol{P}=\boldsymbol{n} \otimes \boldsymbol{m}+\boldsymbol{m} \otimes \boldsymbol{n}\).

5 step solution

Problem 10

Let \(Q\) be a second-order tensor and let \(\boldsymbol{I}\) be the identity tensor. Show that \(\boldsymbol{Q}\) is orthogonal if \(\boldsymbol{H}=\boldsymbol{Q}-\boldsymbol{I}\) satisfies $$ \boldsymbol{H}+\boldsymbol{H}^{T}+\boldsymbol{H} \boldsymbol{H}^{T}=\boldsymbol{O} $$

4 step solution

Problem 11

Show that the transpose of a second-order tensor \(S\) is uniquely defined and that \(\left[\boldsymbol{S}^{T}\right]=[\boldsymbol{S}]^{T}\)

4 step solution

Problem 12

Prove that a second-order tensor \(S\) cannot be both positivedefinite and skew- symmetric.

4 step solution

Problem 13

Let \(\boldsymbol{A}\) denote the change of basis tensor from a frame \(\left\\{e_{i}\right\\}\) to a frame \(\left\\{e_{i}^{\prime}\right\\}\) with representation \([\boldsymbol{A}]\) in \(\left\\{\boldsymbol{e}_{i}\right\\} .\) Let \(\boldsymbol{S}\) be a secondorder tensor with representation \([S]\) and \([S]^{\prime}\) in \(\left\\{e_{i}\right\\}\) and \(\left\\{e_{i}^{\prime}\right\\}\), respectively. Show that $$ [\boldsymbol{S}]^{\prime}=[\boldsymbol{A}]^{T}[\boldsymbol{S}][\boldsymbol{A}] $$

3 step solution

Problem 15

For an arbitrary second-order tensor \(\boldsymbol{A}=A_{i j} \boldsymbol{e}_{i} \otimes \boldsymbol{e}_{j}\) show that $$ \operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A}=\frac{1}{6} \epsilon_{i j k} \epsilon_{p q r} A_{i p} A_{j q} A_{k r} $$ and deduce that \(\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A}=\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A}^{T}\).

3 step solution

Problem 16

For any two second-order tensors \(\boldsymbol{A}\) and \(\boldsymbol{B}\) show that $$ \operatorname{det}(\boldsymbol{A B})=(\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A})(\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{B}) $$ Moreover, if \(\boldsymbol{A}^{-1}\) exists, show that $$ \operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A}^{-1}=1 / \operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{A} $$

5 step solution

Problem 17

For any pair of vectors \(u\) and \(\boldsymbol{v}\) and any invertible second- order tensor \(\boldsymbol{F}\) show that $$ (\boldsymbol{F} \boldsymbol{u}) \times(\boldsymbol{F} \boldsymbol{v})=(\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{F}) \boldsymbol{F}^{-T}(\boldsymbol{u} \times \boldsymbol{v}) $$

3 step solution

Problem 19

Show that: (a) \(|\operatorname{det} \boldsymbol{Q}|=1\) for any orthogonal tensor \(\boldsymbol{Q}\), (b) \(\operatorname{det} Q=1\) for any rotation tensor \(Q\).

7 step solution

Problem 21

Let \(Q\) be a rotation tensor and let \(u, v\) be arbitrary vectors. Show that: \((\mathrm{a})(\boldsymbol{Q} \boldsymbol{u}) \cdot(\boldsymbol{Q} v)=\boldsymbol{u} \cdot \boldsymbol{v}\) (b) \(|Q v|=|v|\), (c) \((\boldsymbol{Q} u) \times(\boldsymbol{Q} v)=\boldsymbol{Q}(\boldsymbol{u} \times \boldsymbol{v})\) Remark: The results in (a) and (b) together imply that the length of a vector and the angle between any two vectors are unchanged by a rotation. The result in (c) implies that rotations commute with the cross product operation; in particular, when two vectors are subject to a common rotation, the normal to their plane is subject to the same rotation.

3 step solution

Problem 22

Let \(Q \neq I\) be a rotation tensor. (a) Show that \(\lambda=1\) is always an eigenvalue of \(Q\). Hint: Use the characteristic polynomial and properties of determinants. (b) Show that there is only one independent eigenvector \(\boldsymbol{e}\) such that \(Q e=e\). Hint: Use part (c) of Exercise 21 to show that if there were more than one such independent eigenvector, then there must be three, which would imply \(Q=I\). (c) Let \(n\) be any unit vector orthogonal to \(e\). Show that \(Q n\) is also a unit vector orthogonal to \(\boldsymbol{e}\) and that the angle \(\theta \in[0, \pi]\) between \(n\) and \(Q n\) satisfies the relation $$ 1+2 \cos \theta=\operatorname{tr} Q $$ Hint: Express \(\boldsymbol{Q}\) in the frame \(\\{\boldsymbol{e}, \boldsymbol{n}, \boldsymbol{e} \times \boldsymbol{n}\\}\). Remark: The vector \(e\) in part (b) is called the rotation axis

5 step solution

Problem 23

Show that the principal invariants of a symmetric second-order tensor \(\boldsymbol{S}\) are given by $$ \begin{aligned} &I_{1}(\boldsymbol{S})=\lambda_{1}+\lambda_{2}+\lambda_{3} \\ &I_{2}(\boldsymbol{S})=\lambda_{1} \lambda_{2}+\lambda_{1} \lambda_{3}+\lambda_{2} \lambda_{3} \\ &I_{3}(\boldsymbol{S})=\lambda_{1} \lambda_{2} \lambda_{3} \end{aligned} $$ where \(\lambda_{i}\) are the eigenvalues of \(S\). Hint: Choose a simple frame in which to represent \(S\).

4 step solution

Problem 24

Let \(\boldsymbol{S}\) be a second-order tensor and let \(I_{2}(\boldsymbol{S})\) be its second principal invariant. Show that \(I_{2}(\boldsymbol{S})\) has the same numerical value regardless of the coordinate frame in which it is computed.

4 step solution

Problem 30

Let \(\boldsymbol{A}, \boldsymbol{B}\) and \(\boldsymbol{C}\) be second-order tensors. Show that $$ \boldsymbol{A}: \boldsymbol{B C}=\boldsymbol{A C}^{T}: \boldsymbol{B}=\boldsymbol{B}^{T} \boldsymbol{A}: \boldsymbol{C} $$

7 step solution

Problem 34

Suppose two symmetric second-order tensors \(S\) and \(E\) satisfy \(S=\mathbf{C} \boldsymbol{E}\), where \(\mathbf{C}\) is a fourth-order tensor with components \(C_{i j r s}=\lambda \delta_{i j} \delta_{r s}+\mu\left(\delta_{i r} \delta_{j s}+\delta_{i s} \delta_{j r}\right)\) and \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are scalar constants. Show that: (a) \(\boldsymbol{S}=\lambda(\operatorname{tr} \boldsymbol{E}) \boldsymbol{I}+2 \mu \boldsymbol{E}\) (b) \(\boldsymbol{E}=\frac{1}{2 \mu} \boldsymbol{S}-\frac{\lambda}{2 \mu(3 \lambda+2 \mu)}(\operatorname{tr} \boldsymbol{S}) \boldsymbol{I}\).

6 step solution

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