Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T09:58:20.932Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the classification of isotropic tensors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2009

P. G. Appleby
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool, Department Of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
B. R. Duffy
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, Department of Mathematics, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow Gl 1XH
R. W. Ogden
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Department of Mathematics, Glasgow G12 8QW
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A tensor is said to be isotropic relative to a group of transformations if its components are invariant under the associated group of coordinate transformations. In this paper we review the classification of tensors which are isotropic under the general linear group, the special linear (unimodular) group and the rotational group. These correspond respectively to isotropic absolute tensors [4, 8] isotropic relative tensors [4] and isotropic Cartesian tensors [3]. New proofs are given for the representation of isotropic tensors in terms of Kronecker deltas and alternating tensors. And, for isotropic Cartesian tensors, we provide a complete classification, clarifying results described in [3].

In the final section of the paper certain derivatives of isotropic tensor fields are examined.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Glasgow Mathematical Journal Trust 1987

References

1. Abraham, R., Marsden, J. E. and Ratiu, T., Manifolds, tensor analysis and applications (Addison Wesley, 1983).Google Scholar
2. Golab, S., Tensor calculus (Elsevier, 1974).Google Scholar
3. Jeffreys, H., On isotropic tensors, Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 73 (1973), 173176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Knebelman, M. S., Tensors with invariant components, Ann. of Math. (2) 30 (1928), 339344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Oldroyd, J. G. and Duffy, B. R., Physical constants of a flowing continuum, J. Non- Newtonian Fluid Mech. 5 (1979), 141145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Ogden, R. W., On isotropic tensors and elastic moduli, Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 75 (1974), 427436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Schouten, J. A., Tensor analysis for physicists, 2nd Edition (Oxford University Press, 1954).Google Scholar
8. Thomas, T. Y., Tensors whose components are absolute constants, Ann. of Math.(2) 27 (1926), 548550.CrossRefGoogle Scholar