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 Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications:
Monographs, Expositions and Lecture Notes

Print ISSN: 2591-7668

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Published

Vol. 5 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers:

With Applications to Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces
by Paolo Vannucci

Vol. 4 Frontiers in Entropy Across the Disciplines:

Panorama of Entropy: Theory, Computation, and Applications
edited by Willi Freeden & M Zuhair Nashed

Vol. 3 Introduction to Algebraic Coding Theory

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Names: Vannucci, Paolo, author.
Title: Tensor algebra and analysis for engineers : with applications to differential geometry of curves
and surfaces / author, Paolo Vannucci, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.
Description: Singapore ; Hackensack, NJ : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., [2023] |
Series: Contemporary mathematics and its applications. Monographs, expositions and lecture
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 Preface
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This textbook, addressed to graduate students and young researchers in

mechanics, has been developed from the class notes of different courses in
continuum mechanics that I have been delivering for several years as part
of the Master’s program in MMM: Mathematical Methods for Mechanics
at the University Paris-Saclay.
Far from being exhaustive, as any primer text, the intention of this book
is to introduce students in mechanics and engineering to the mathematical
language and tools that are necessary for a modern approach to continuum
theoretical and applied mechanics. The presentation of the matter is hence
tailored for this scientific community, and necessarily, it is different, in
terms of language and objectives, from that normally proposed to students
of other disciplines, such as physics, especially general relativity, or pure
mathematics.
What has motivated me to write this textbook is the idea of collecting
in a single, introductory book a set of results and tools useful for studies in
mechanics and presenting them in a modern, succinct way. Almost all the
results and theorems are proved, and the reader is guided along a tour that
starts from vectors and ends at the differential geometry of surfaces, passing
through the algebra of tensors of second and fourth orders, the differential
geometry of curves, the tensor analysis for fields and deformations, and the
use of curvilinear coordinates.
Some topics are specially treated, such as rotations, the algebra of
fourth-order tensors, which is fundamental for the mechanics of modern
materials, or the properties of differential operators. Some other topics
are intentionally omitted because they are less important to continuum

v
 vi Preface

mechanics or too advanced for an introductory text. Though in some

modern texts, tensors are directly presented in the most general setting
of curvilinear coordinates, I preferred here to choose a more traditional
approach, introducing first the tensors in Cartesian coordinates, normally
used for classical problems. Then, an entire chapter is devoted to the
passage to curvilinear coordinates and to the formalism of co- and
contravariant components.
The tensor theory and results are specially applied to introduce some
subjects concerning differential geometry of curves and surfaces. Also, in
this case, the presentation is mainly intended for applications to continuum
mechanics and, in particular, in view of courses on slender beams or
thin shells. All the presentation of the topics of differential geometry is
extensively based on tensor algebra and analysis.
More than a hundred exercises are proposed to the reader, many of
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them completing the theoretical part through new results and proofs. All
the exercises are entirely developed and solved at the end of the book in
order to provide the reader with thorough support for his learning.
In Chapter 1, vectors and points are introduced and also, with a
small anticipation of some results of the second chapter, applied vectors
are visited. Chapter 2 is completely devoted to the algebra of second-
rank tensors and the succeeding Chapter 3 to that of fourth-rank tensors.
Intentionally, these are the only two types of tensors introduced in the book:
They are the most important tensors in mechanics, and they allow us to
represent deformation, stress, and the constitutive laws. I preferred not to
introduce tensors in an absolutely general way but to go directly to the
most important tensors for applications in mechanics; for the same reason,
the algebra of other tensors, namely of third-rank tensors, is not presented
in this primer text.
The analysis of tensors is done using first-differential geometry of
curves, in Chapter 4, for differentiation and integration with respect to
only one variable, then introducing the differential operators for fields and
deformations, in Chapter 5.
Then, a generalization of second-rank tensor algebra and analysis in
the sense of the use of curvilinear coordinates is presented in Chapter 6,
where the notion of metric tensor, co- and contravariant components, and
Christoffel’s symbols are introduced.
Finally, Chapter 7 is entirely devoted to an introduction to the
differential geometry of surfaces. Classical topics such as the first and second
 Preface vii

fundamental forms of a surface, the different types of curvatures, the Gauss–

Weingarten equations, or the concepts of minimal surfaces, geodesics, and
the Gauss–Codazzi conditions are presented, with all these topics being of
great interest in mechanics.
I tried to write a coherent, almost self-contained manual of mathematical
tools for graduate students in mechanics with the hope of helping young
students progress in their studies. The exposition is as simple as possible,
sober, and sometimes minimalist. I intentionally avoided burdening the
language and the text with nonessential details and considerations, but I
have always tried to grasp the essence of a result and its usefulness.
It is my most sincere hope that the reader who dares to persevere
through the pages of this book will find a benefit to his studies in continuous
mechanics. This is, eventually, the goal of this primer text.
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 About the Author
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Paolo Vannucci is a full professor of mechanics

at the University of Versailles & Saint Quentin
(UVSQ), part of the University of Paris-Saclay. He
is the author of one book, a co-author of five books,
and the author or a co-author of more than 100
papers published in international journals and pre-
sented in conference proceedings. He is a member of
the editorial board of five international journals and
a reviewer for the journal Mathematical Reviews.
He is currently the director of the master’s program
in Mathematical Methods in Mechanics at the University of Paris-Saclay.
As a professor, he teaches several courses, including continuum mechanics,
analytical mechanics, the theory of structures, differential geometry, fluid–
structure interactions, and anisotropic mechanics. His research concerns
different topics in mechanics and applied mathematics: numerical methods
for nonlinear mechanics, description of anisotropic phenomena by means
of tensor invariants, optimization of structures by meta-heuristics (genetic
algorithms and PSO), optimal design of anisotropic structures, effects of
ultimate loads (wind storms and explosions) on monumental structures, etc.

ix
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 Acknowledgments
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I am indebted to many persons for the topics of this book. Professor

E. G. G. Virga, University of Pavia, introduced me to tensor algebra during
my PhD at the University of Pisa many years ago.
Then, I have had the privilege of collaborating with Professor
G. Verchery, at the University of Burgundy, who introduced me to the
representation methods based upon tensor invariants. This has been very
useful for developing some results in the algebra of fourth-rank tensors.
I also wish to thank Professor P. M. Mariano, University of Florence,
who always pushed me to go forward and to consider problems of modern
mechanics; many of the discussions I had with him have been very
important to me.
I have also had many interesting and useful discussions with Professor
J. Lerbet, University of Evry, and with Doctor C. Fourcade, of Renault
S.A.; I wish to thank them sincerely.
I am also grateful to Prof. A. Frediani, who has been for me an example
of honesty in teaching and science, and I cannot forget Prof. P. Villaggio, my
PhD director, who passed by some years ago: his teaching and personality
leaved an indelebile trace in all my life of scientist.
Finally, I wish to thank my wife, Carla, my daughter, Bianca, and my
son, Alessandro. Without them, nothing would have been possible; because
of them many things happen.

xi
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 Contents
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Preface v
About the Author ix
Acknowledgments xi
List of Symbols xvii

1. Points and Vectors 1

1.1 Points and vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Scalar product, distance, orthogonality . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Basis of V, expression of the scalar product . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 Applied vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.5 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2. Second-Rank Tensors 15
2.1 Second-rank tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.2 Dyads, tensor components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.3 Tensor product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.4 Transpose, symmetric and skew tensors . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.5 Trace, scalar product of tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.6 Spherical and deviatoric parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.7 Determinant, inverse of a tensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.8 Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a tensor . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.9 Skew tensors and cross product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.10 Orientation of a basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

xiii
 xiv Contents

2.11 Rotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
2.12 Reflexions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2.13 Polar decomposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
2.14 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

3. Fourth-Rank Tensors 57
3.1 Fourth-rank tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
3.2 Dyads, tensor components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
3.3 Conjugation product, transpose, symmetries . . . . . . . . 59
3.4 Trace and scalar product of fourth-rank tensors . . . . . . 62
3.5 Projectors and identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
3.6 Orthogonal conjugator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3.7 Rotations and symmetries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3.8 The Kelvin formalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
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3.9 The polar formalism for plane tensors . . . . . . . . . . . 71

3.10 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

4. Tensor Analysis: Curves 75

4.1 Curves of points, vectors and tensors . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4.2 Differentiation of curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
4.3 Integral of a curve of vectors and length of a curve . . . . 80
4.4 The Frenet–Serret basis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
4.5 Curvature of a curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
4.6 The Frenet–Serret formula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
4.7 The torsion of a curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
4.8 Osculating sphere and circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
4.9 Evolute, involute and envelopes of plane curves . . . . . . 93
4.10 The theorem of Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
4.11 Canonic equations of a curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
4.12 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

5. Tensor Analysis: Fields 103

5.1 Scalar, vector and tensor fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
5.2 Differentiation of fields, differential operators . . . . . . . 103
5.3 Properties of the differential operators . . . . . . . . . . . 105
5.4 Theorems on fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
5.5 Differential operators in Cartesian coordinates . . . . . . . 115
5.6 Differential operators in cylindrical coordinates . . . . . . 115
5.7 Differential operators in spherical coordinates . . . . . . . 120
5.8 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
 Contents xv

6. Curvilinear Coordinates 125

6.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
6.2 Curvilinear coordinates, metric tensor . . . . . . . . . . . 125
6.3 Co- and contravariant components . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
6.4 Spatial derivatives of fields in curvilinear coordinates . . . 135
6.5 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
7. Surfaces in E 141
7.1 Surfaces in E, coordinate lines and tangent planes . . . . . 141
7.2 Surfaces of revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
7.3 Ruled surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
7.4 First fundamental form of a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
7.5 Second fundamental form of a surface . . . . . . . . . . . 149
7.6 Curvatures of a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
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7.7 The theorem of Rodrigues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

7.8 Classification of the points of a surface . . . . . . . . . . . 156
7.9 Developable surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
7.10 Points of a surface of revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
7.11 Lines of curvature, conjugated directions, asymptotic
directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
7.12 Dupin’s conical curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
7.13 The Gauss–Weingarten equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
7.14 The theorema egregium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7.15 Minimal surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
7.16 Geodesics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
7.17 The Gauss–Codazzi compatibility conditions . . . . . . . . 174
7.18 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Suggested Texts 183

Solutions to the Exercises 185
Index 207
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 List of Symbols
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:= : definition symbol
|: such that
∃!: exists and is unique
R: set of real numbers
E: ordinary 3D Euclidean space
V: vector space of translations, associated with E
Lin(V): vector space of second-rank tensors
Lin(V): vector space of fourth-rank tensors
x, y, z etc.: scalars (elements of R)
p, q, r etc.: points (elements of E)
u, v, w etc.: vectors (elements of V)
u = p − q etc.: vector difference of two points of E
L, M, N etc.: second-rank tensors (elements of Lin(V))
L, M, N etc.: fourth-rank tensors (elements of Lin(V))
u · v etc.: scalar product of vectors
L · M etc.: scalar product of second-rank tensors
u × v etc.: cross product of vectors
u ⊗ v etc.: dyad (second-rank tensor) of vectors
u = |u|: norm of a vector
L = |L|: norm of a tensor
|p − q|, |u − v|, |L − M|: distance of points, vectors or tensors

xvii
 xviii List of Symbols

det L: determinant of a second-rank tensor L

L : transpose of a second-rank tensor L
L−1 : inverse of a second-rank tensor L
L− = (L )−1 = (L−1 )
Sym(V): subspace of Lin(V) of symmetric second-rank tensors
Skw(V): subspace of Lin(V) of skew second-rank tensors
Sph(V): subspace of Lin(V) of spherical second-rank tensors
Dev(V): subspace of Lin(V) of deviatoric second-rank tensors
Orth(V): subspace of Lin(V) of orthogonal second-rank tensors
Orth(V)+ : subspace of Lin(V) of rotation second-rank tensors
S: unit sphere of V: S = {u ∈ V| |u| = 1}
δij : Kronecker’s delta
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: real part of a complex quantity

: imaginary part of a complex quantity
L = A  B: conjugation product of two second-rank tensors
Ssph : spherical projector
Ddev : deviatoric projector
Ttrp : transpose projector
Ssym : symmetry projector
Wskw : antisymmetry projector
I: identity of Lin(V)
Is : restriction of I to symmetric tensors of Lin(V)
 Chapter 1

Points and Vectors

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1.1 Points and vectors

We consider in the following a point space E whose elements are points p.

In classical mechanics, E is identified with the Euclidean three-dimensional
space, wherein events are intended to be set. On E, we admit the existence
of an operation, the difference of any couple of its elements:

q − p, p, q ∈ E.

We associate with E a vector space V whose dimension is dimV = 3 and

whose elements are vectors v representing translations over E:

∀p, q ∈ E, ∃! v ∈ V| q − p = v.

Any element v ∈ V is hence a transformation over E that can be written

using the previous definition as

∀v ∈ V, v : E → E| q = v(p) → q = p + v.

We remark that the result of the application of the translation v depends

upon the argument p:

q = p + v  =p1 + v = q1 ,

whose geometric meaning is depicted in Fig. 1.1. Unlike the difference, the
sum of two points is not defined and is meaningless.
We define the sum of two vectors u and v as the vector w such that

(u + v)(p) = u(v(p)) = w(p).

1
 2 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 1.1: Same translation applied to two different points.

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Figure 1.2: Sum of two vectors: the parallelogram rule.

This means that if

q = v(p) = p + v,

then

r = u(q) = q + u = w(p),

see Fig. 1.2, which shows that the above definition actually coincides with
the parallelogram rule and that

u + v = v + u,

as is obvious, for the sum over a vector space commutes. It is evident that
the sum of more than two vectors can be defined iteratively, summing up
a vector at a time to the sum of the previous vectors.
The null vector o is defined as the difference of any two coincident
points:

o := p − p ∀p ∈ E;

o is unique and the only vector such that

v + o = v ∀v ∈ V.
 Points and Vectors 3

In fact,

∀p ∈ E, v + o = v + p − p → p + v + o = p + v ⇐⇒ v + o = v.

A linear combination of n vectors vi is defined as the vector1

w := ki vi , ki ∈ R, i = 1, . . . , n.
The n + 1 vectors w, vi , i = 1, . . . , n, are said to be linearly independent
if there does not exist a set of n scalars ki such that the above equation is
satisfied and are said to be linearly dependent in the opposite case.

1.2 Scalar product, distance, orthogonality

A scalar product on a vector space is a positive definite, symmetric, bilinear

form. A form ω is a function
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ω : V × V → R,

i.e. ω operates on a couple of vectors to give a real number, a scalar. We

indicate the scalar product of two vectors u and v as2

ω(u, v) = u · v.
The properties of bilinearity prescribe that, ∀u, v ∈ V and ∀α, β ∈ R,
u · (αv + βw) = αu · v + βu · w,
(αu + βv) · w = αu · w + βv · w,
while symmetry implies that

u · v = v · u ∀u, v ∈ V.

Finally, the positive definiteness means that

v · v > 0 ∀v ∈ V, v · v = 0 ⇐⇒ v = o.

Any two vectors u, v ∈ V are said to be orthogonal ⇐⇒

u · v = 0.

1 We adopt here and in the following the Einstein notation for summations: All the times
when an index is repeated in a monomial, then the summation
 with respect to that index,
called the dummy index, is understood, e.g. ki vi = i ki vi . We then say that the index
i is saturated. If a repeated index is underlined, then it is not a dummy index, i.e. there
is no summation.
2 The scalar product ω(u, v) is also indicated as < u, v >.
 4 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Thanks to the properties of the scalar product, we can define the Euclidean
norm of a vector v as the nonnegative scalar, denoted equivalently by v
or |v|:
√
v = |v| := v · v.

Theorem 1. The norm of a vector has the following properties: ∀u, v ∈

V, k ∈ R,
|u · v| ≤ u v (Schwarz s inequality);
|u + v| ≤ u + v (Minkowski s triangular inequality);
|kv| = |k|v.

Proof. Schwarz’s inequality: It is sufficient to prove that

(u · v)2 ≤ u · u v · v.
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Let x = v · v and y = −u · v. Then, by the positive definiteness of the scalar

product, we get
(xu + yv) · (xu + yv) ≥ 0,
which implies that
x2 u · u + 2xyu · v + y 2 v · v = (v · v)2 u · u − 2v · v(u · v)2
+ v · v(u · v)2 ≥ 0;
supposing v  = o (otherwise, the proof is trivial), we get the thesis on
dividing by v · v.
Minkowski’s inequality: Because the two members of the inequality to
be proved are nonnegative, it is sufficient to prove that
(u + v) · (u + v) ≤ (u + v)2 = u2 + 2uv + v 2 .
This can be proved easily:
(u + v) · (u + v) = u · u + 2u · v + v · v = u2 + 2u · v + v 2
≤ u2 + 2|u · v| + v 2 ≤ u2 + 2uv + v 2 ,
in which the last operation follows from Schwarz’s inequality.
The proof of the third property is immediate, it is sufficient to use the
same definition of norm. 
We define the distance between any two points p and q ∈ E the scalar
d(p, q) := |p − q| = |q − p|.
 Points and Vectors 5

Similarly, the distance between any two vectors u and v ∈ V is defined as

d(u, v) := |u − v| = |v − u|.

Two points or two vectors are coincident if and only if their distance is null.
The unit sphere S of V is defined as the set of all the vectors whose
norm is one:

S := {v ∈ V| v = 1}.

1.3 Basis of V, expression of the scalar product

There is a general way to define a basis for a vector space of any kind. We
limit the introduction of the concept of basis to the case of V only, which
is of interest in classical mechanics. Generally, a basis B of V is any set of
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three linearly independent vectors ei , i = 1, 2, 3, of V:

B = {e1 , e2 , e3 }.

The introduction of a basis for V is useful for representing vectors. In fact,

once a basis B is fixed, any vector v ∈ V can be represented as a linear
combination of the vectors of the basis, where the coefficients vi of the
linear combination are the Cartesian components of v:

v = vi ei = v1 e1 + v2 e2 + v3 e3 .

Though the choice of the elements of a basis is completely arbitrary, the

only condition being their linear independency, we use in the following
only orthonormal bases, which are bases composed of mutually orthogonal
vectors of S, i.e. satisfying

ei · ej = δij ,

where the symbol δij is the so-called Kronecker’s delta:


1 if i = j,
δij =
0 if i  =j.

The use of orthonormal bases has great advantages; namely, it allows us to

give a very simple rule for the calculation of the scalar product:

u · v = ui ei · vj ej = ui vj δij = ui vi = u1 v1 + u2 v2 + u3 v3 .
 6 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

In particular, it is

v · ei = vk ek · ei = vk δik = vi , i = 1, 2, 3.

So, the Cartesian components of a vector are the projection of the vector
on the three vectors of the basis B; such quantities are the director cosines
of v in the basis B. In fact, if θ is the angle formed by two vectors u and
v, then

u · v = u v cos θ.

This relation is used to define the angle between two vectors,

u·v
θ = arccos ,
uv
which can be proved easily: Given two vectors u and v, we look for c ∈ R
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such that the vector u − cv is orthogonal to v:

u·v u·v
(u − cv) · v = 0 ⇐⇒ c = = 2 .
v·v v
Now, if u is inclined at θ on v, its projection uv on the direction of v is

uv = u cos θ,

and, by construction (see Fig. 1.3), it is also

uv = c v.

So,
u u u·v u·v
c= cos θ → cos θ = 2 ⇒ cos θ = .
v v v uv
We remark that while the scalar product, being an intrinsic operation,
does not change with a change of basis, the components vi of a vector are

Figure 1.3: Angle between two vectors.

 Points and Vectors 7

not intrinsic quantities, but they are basis-dependent: A change of the basis
makes the components change. The way this change is done is introduced
in Section 2.11.
A frame R for E is composed of a point o ∈ E, the origin, and a basis
B of V:
R := {o, B} = {o; e1 , e2 , e3 }.
The use of a frame for E is useful for determining the position of a point
p, which can be done through its Cartesian coordinates xi , defined as the
components in B of the vector p − o:
xi := (p − o) · ei , i = 1, 2, 3.
Of course, the coordinates xi of a point p ∈ E depend upon the choice of o
and B.
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1.4 Applied vectors

We introduce now a set of definitions, concepts, and results that are widely
used in physics, especially in mechanics. For that, we need to anticipate
some results that are introduced in the next chapter, namely that of cross
product, in Section 2.9, and of complementary projector, in Exercise 2,
Chapter 2. This slight deviation from the good rule of consistent progression
in stating the results is justified by the fact that, actually, the matter
presented hereafter is still that of vectors. The reader can, of course, come
back to the topics of this section once they have studied Chapter 2.
We call applied vector vp a vector v associated to a point p ∈ E. In
physics, the concept of applied vector3 is often employed, for example, to
represent forces4 . We define the resultant of a system of n applied vectors
vip as the vector
n
R := vip .
i=1
We define the moment of an applied vector vp about a point o, called the
center of the moment, the vector
Mo := (p − o) × vp ,

3 Inthe literature, applied vectors are also called bound vectors.

4 The fact that in classical mechanics forces can be represented by vectors is actually a
fundamental postulate of physics. Forces are vectors that cannot be considered belonging
to the translation space V; nevertheless, the definitions and results found earlier are also
valid for vectors ∈
/ V.
 8 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 1.4: Moment arm of an applied vector.

and the resultant moment of a system of n applied vectors vip about a point
o the vector
n
(pi − o) × vip .
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Mro :=
i=1

We remark that R, Mo , and Mro are not applied vectors.

If u ∈ S| u × vp = o, then
b := |(I − u ⊗ u)(p − o)| = |p − o| sin θ
is called the moment arm of vp with respect to the center o. It measures
the distance of o from the line of action, i.e. the line passing through p and
parallel to vp , cf. Fig. 1.4.
Theorem 2 (Transport of moment). if Mo1 is the moment of an
applied vector vp about a center o1 , the moment Mo2 of vp about another
center o2 is
Mo2 = Mo1 + (o1 − o2 ) × vp .

Proof. Referring to Fig. 1.5,

Mo2 = (p − o2 ) × vp
= (p − o1 + o1 − o2 ) × vp = (p − o1 ) × vp + (o1 − o2 ) × vp
= Mo1 + (o1 − o2 ) × vp .

A consequence of this theorem is that Mo1 = Mo2 ⇐⇒ vp × (o1 − o2 ),
i.e. if vp and o1 − o2 are parallel. It follows from this that the moment
of an applied vector does not change when calculated about the points of
a straight line parallel to the vector itself or, more importantly, if vp is
translated along its line of action.
 Points and Vectors 9

Figure 1.5: Scheme for the transposition of the moment.

The above theorem can be extended to the resultant moment of a system

of applied vectors to give (the proof is quite similar)
Mro2 = Mro1 + (o1 − o2 ) × R. (1.1)
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Also, in this case, the resultant moment does not change when R and o1 −o2
are parallel vectors, but not exclusively, as another possibility is that R = o:
For the systems of applied vectors with null resultant, the resultant moment
is invariant with respect to the center of the moment.
An interesting relation can be found if the two members of the last
equation are projected onto R, which gives
Mro1 · R = Mro2 · R : (1.2)
The projection of the resultant moment onto the direction of R does not
depend upon the center of the moment.
A particularly important case of the system with a null resultant is that
of a couple, which is composed of two opposite vectors v and −v, which
are applied to two points p and q:
vp = −vq .
Of course, by definition, R = o for any couple and, as a consequence, the
resultant moment Mr of a couple, called the moment of the couple and
simply denoted by M, is independent of the center of the moment (that is
why the index denoting the center of the moment is omitted): Referring to
Fig. 1.6,
M = (p − o) × vp + (q − o) × vq = (p − o) × v − (q − o) × v
= ((p − o) − (q − o)) × v = (p − q) × v.
If u ∈ S| u × v = o, then
bc := |(I − u ⊗ u)(p − q)| = |p − q| sin θ
 10 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 1.6: Scheme of a couple.

is the couple arm. We then have

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M = |(p − q) × v| = |p − q|v sin θ = bc v.

The central axis A of a system of n applied vectors with R  =o is the

axis such that

Mra × R = o ∀a ∈ A.

Theorem 3 (Existence and uniqueness of the central axis). The

central axis of a system of n vectors exists and is unique.

a = kR, k ∈ R ⇒
Proof. Existence: we need at least a point a ∈ E| MR
Mra × R = o. From Eq. (1.1), ∀o ∈ E, we get

Mra ×R = Mro ×R+((o−a)×R)×R = Mro ×R−R2 (o−a)+(R·(o−a))R.

Then, if we take for o − a the vector

Mro × R
o−a= ,
R2
 Points and Vectors 11

it is evident that we get

Mra × R = o.

Hence, the point

Mro × R
a=o− ∈ A.
R2
So, because Mr does not change when calculated with respect to the points
of an axis parallel to R, A is the axis passing through a and parallel to R
whose equation is

Mro × R
p =a+t R = o− + t R, t ∈ R.
R2
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Uniqueness: Suppose another axis   =A exists, which is necessarily parallel

to A. If q ∈ A,
ˆ again using Eq. (1.1), we get

Mrq × R = Mra × R + ((a − q) × R) × R.

In this equation, the left-hand side and the first term on the right-hand side
are null by the definition of central axis. Because (a−q)×R is perpendicular
to R and R  = o by hypothesis, the left-hand side is null if and only if
a = q ⇒ Aˆ = A. 

The central axis has another remarkable property.

Theorem 4 (Property of minimum of the central axis). The points

of the central axis minimize the resultant moment.

Proof. When Mr is calculated about a point a ∈ A, it is parallel to R,

which is not the case for any point q ∈/ A. In this last case, hence, Mr
also has a component orthogonal to R. Then, by virtue of the invariance of
the projection of Mr onto R, Eq. (1.2), Mr gets its minimum value when
calculated about the points of A. 

Let us now consider the case of systems for which

Mro · R = 0 ∀o ∈ E.

This is namely the case of systems of coplanar or parallel vectors (cf.

Exercise 1.5). Because in this case, for the points a ∈ A, it must be at
 12 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

the same time Mra · R = 0 and Mra × R = o, so the only possibility is that

Mra = o ∀a ∈ A,

i.e. in this case, A is the axis of points that make the resultant moment
vanish.
Two systems of applied vectors are equivalent if they have the same
resultant R and the same resultant moment Mro about any center o ∈ E.
The equivalence does not depend upon the center o. In fact, by Eq. (1.1),
if two systems have the same R and the same Mro1 , with o1 a given point,
then also Mro2 will be the same ∀o2 ∈ E.

Theorem 5 (Reduction of a system of applied vectors). A system of

applied vectors is always equivalent to the system composed of the resultant
R applied at a point o and by a couple with moment M = Mro , with o any
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point of E.

Proof. By construction, R is the same for the two systems; moreover, for
the equivalent system (resultant plus couple), it is

M + (o − o) × R = M.

So, if the couple has a moment M = Mro , the two systems are equivalent.


In practice, this theorem affirms that it is always possible to reduce a

system of n applied vectors to only an applied vector equal to R and to a
couple or, if one of the two vectors composed of the couple is applied to
the same point of R, to two applied vectors. It is worth noting that the
equivalence of the two systems is preserved if a vector is translated along
its line of action because in such a case, R and Mro do not change.
Finally, a system of n applied vectors is said to be equilibrated if

R = o, Mro = o ∀o ∈ E.

We note that because R = o, the center o can be any point of E.

1.5 Exercises

1. Prove that the null vector is unique.

2. Prove that the null vector is orthogonal to any vector.
3. Prove that the norm of the null vector is zero.
 Points and Vectors 13

4. Prove that
u · v = 0 ⇐⇒ |u − v| = |u + v| ∀u, v ∈ V.
5. Prove the linear forms representation theorem: Let ψ : V → R be a
linear function. Then, ∃! u ∈ V such that
ψ(v) = u · v ∀v ∈ V.
6. Consider a point p and two noncollinear vectors u, v ∈ S at p. Show
that a vector w is the bisector of the angle formed by u and v if and
only if w · u = w · v.
7. Show that in the case of systems composed of coplanar or parallel
applied vectors with R  =o, Mro · R = 0 ∀o ∈ E.
8. Prove that any system of applied vectors with R = o is equivalent to
a couple.
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9. Prove that a system of applied vectors all passing through a point p is

equivalent to R applied to p.
10. Prove that if for a system of applied vectors Mro = o, then the system
is equivalent to R applied to o. Then, show that if o ∈ A, this is the
case of coplanar or parallel vectors.
11. Prove that a system of applied vectors is equilibrated if and only if any
equivalent system is equilibrated.
12. Prove that two applied vectors form an equilibrated system if and only
if they are two opposite vectors applied to the same point.
13. Prove that a system of applied vectors is equilibrated if all the vectors
pass through the same point and R = o.
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 Chapter 2

Second-Rank Tensors
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2.1 Second-rank tensors

A second-rank tensor L is any linear application from V to V:

L : V → V | L(αi ui ) = αi Lui ∀αi ∈ R, ui ∈ V, i = 1, . . . , n.

Though here, V indicates the vector space of translations over E, the
definition of tensor1 is more general, and in particular, V can be any vector
space.
Defining the sum of two tensors as
(L1 + L2 )u = L1 u + L2 u ∀u ∈ V, (2.1)
the product of a scalar by a tensor as
(αL)u = α(Lu) ∀α ∈ R, u ∈ V,
and the null tensor O as the unique tensor such that
Ou = o ∀u ∈ V,
then the set of all the tensors L that operate on V forms a vector space,
denoted by Lin(V). We define the identity tensor I as the unique tensor
such that
Iu = u ∀u ∈ V.

1 We consider, for the time being, only second-rank tensors that constitute a very
important set of operators in classical and continuum mechanics. In the following, we
also introduce fourth-rank tensors.

15
 16 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Different operations can be defined for the second-rank tensors. We

consider all of them in the following sections.

2.2 Dyads, tensor components

For any couple of vectors u and v, the dyad2 u ⊗ v is a tensor defined by

(u ⊗ v)w := v · w u ∀w ∈ V.

The application defined above is actually a tensor because of the bilinearity

of the scalar product. The introduction of dyads allows us to express any
tensor as a linear combination of dyads. In fact, it can be proved that if
B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } is a basis of V, then the set of nine dyads,

B 2 = {ei ⊗ ej , i, j = 1, 2, 3},
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is a basis of Lin(V) so that dim(Lin(V)) = 9. This implies that any tensor,

L ∈ Lin(V), can be expressed as

L = Lij ei ⊗ ej , i, j = 1, 2, 3,

where Lij s are the nine Cartesian components of L with respect to B 2 . Lij s
can be calculated easily:

ei · Lej = ei · Lhk eh ⊗ ek ej = Lhk ei · eh ek · ej = Lhk δih δjk = Lij .

The above expression is sometimes called the canonical decomposition of a

tensor. The components of a dyad can be computed as follows:

(u ⊗ v)ij = ei · (u ⊗ v) ej = u · ei v · ej = ui vj . (2.2)

The components of a vector v, resulting from the application of a tensor

L on a vector u, can now be calculated:

v = Lu = Lij (ei ⊗ ej )(uk ek ) = Lij uk δjk ei = Lij uj ei → vi = Lij uj .

(2.3)

Depending upon two indices, any second-rank tensor L can be repre-

sented by a matrix whose entries are the Cartesian components of L in the

2 Insome texts, the dyad is also called the tensor product; we prefer to use the term dyad
because the term tensor product can be ambiguous, as it is used to denote the product
of two tensors, see Section 2.3.
 Second-Rank Tensors 17

basis B:
⎡ ⎤
L11 L12 L13
L = ⎣L21 L22 L23 ⎦ .
L31 L32 L33

Because any u ∈ V, depending upon only one index, can be represented by

a column vector, Eq. (2.3) represents actually the classical operation of the
multiplication of a 3 × 3 matrix by a 3 × 1 vector.

2.3 Tensor product

The tensor product of L1 and L2 ∈ Lin(V) is defined by

(L1 L2 )v := L1 (L2 v) ∀v ∈ V.
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By linearity and Eq. (2.1), ∀L, L1 , L2 ∈ Lin(V), u ∈ V, we get

[L(L1 + L2 )]v = L[(L1 + L2 )v] = L(L1 v + L2 v)

= LL1 v + LL2 v = (LL1 + LL2 )v → L(L1 + L2 )
= LL1 + LL2 .

We remark that the tensor product is not symmetric:

L1 L2 = L2 L1 ;

however, by the same definition of the identity tensor and of tensor product,

IL = LI = L ∀L ∈ Lin(V).

The Cartesian components of a tensor L = AB can be calculated using

Eq. (2.3):

Lij = ei · (AB)ej = ei · A(Bej ) = ei · A(Bhk (ej )k eh ) = Bhk δjk ei · Aeh

= Bhk δjk ei · (Apq (eh )q ep ) = Apq Bhk δjk δqh δip = Aih Bhj .

The above result simply corresponds to the row–column multiplication of

two matrices. Using that, the following two identities can be readily shown:

(a ⊗ b)(c ⊗ d) = b · c(a ⊗ d) ∀a, b, c, d ∈ V,

(2.4)
A(a ⊗ b) = (Aa) ⊗ b ∀a, b ∈ V, A ∈ Lin(V).
 18 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Finally, the symbol L2 is normally used to denote, in short, the product

LL, ∀L ∈ Lin(V).

2.4 Transpose, symmetric and skew tensors

For any tensor L ∈ Lin(V), there exists just one tensor L , called the
transpose of L, such that

u · Lv = v · L u ∀u, v ∈ V. (2.5)

The transpose of the transpose of L is L:

u · Lv = v · L u = u · (L ) v ⇒ (L ) = L.

The Cartesian components of L are obtained by swapping the indices of

the components of L:
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L   
ij = ei · L ej = ej · (L ) ei = ej · Lei = Lji .

It is immediate to show that

(A + B) = A + B ∀A, B ∈ Lin(V),

while

u · (AB)v = Bv · A u = v · B A u ⇒ (AB) = B A .

Moreover,

u · (a ⊗ b)v = a · u b · v = v · (b ⊗ a)u ⇒ (a ⊗ b) = b ⊗ a. (2.6)

A tensor L is symmetric ⇐⇒

L = L .

In such a case, because Lij = L

ij , we have

Lij = Lji .

A symmetric tensor is hence represented, in a given basis, by a symmetric

matrix and has only six independent Cartesian components. Applying
Eq. (2.5) to I, it is immediately recognized that the identity tensor is
symmetric: I = I .
A tensor L is antisymmetric or skew ⇐⇒

L = −L .
 Second-Rank Tensors 19

In this case, because Lij = −L

ij , we have (no summation on the index i,
see footnote 1, Chapter 1)

Lij = −Lji ⇒ Lii = 0 ∀i = 1, 2, 3.

A skew tensor is hence represented, in a given basis, by an antisymmetric
matrix whose components on the diagonal are identically null in any basis;
finally, a skew tensor only depends upon three independent Cartesian
components.
If we denote by Sym(V) the set of all the symmetric tensors and by
Skw(V) that of all the skew tensors, then it is evident that ∀α, β, λ, μ ∈ R,
Sym(V) ∩ Skw(V) = O,
αA + βB ∈ Sym(V) ∀A, B ∈ Sym(V),
λL + μM ∈ Skw(V) ∀L, M ∈ Skw(V),
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so Sym(V) and Skw(V) are vector subspaces of Lin(V) with

dim(Sym(V)) = 6, while dim(Skw(V)) = 3.
Any tensor L can be decomposed into the sum of a symmetric, Ls , and
an antisymmetric, La , tensor:

L = Ls + La ,
with
L + L
Ls = ∈ Sym(V)
2
and
L − L
La = ∈ Skw(V)
2
so that, finally,

Lin(V) = Sym(V) ⊕ Skw(V).

2.5 Trace, scalar product of tensors

There exists one and only one linear form

tr : Lin(V) → R,
called the trace, such that

tr(a ⊗ b) = a · b ∀a, b ∈ V.
 20 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

For the same definition that has been given without making use of any basis
of V, the trace of a tensor is a tensor invariant, i.e. a quantity extracted
from a tensor that does not depend upon the basis.
Linearity implies that

tr(αA + βB) = αtrA + βtrB ∀α, β ∈ R, A, B ∈ Lin(V).

It is just linearity to give the rule for calculating the trace of a tensor L:

trL = tr(Lij ei ⊗ ej ) = Lij tr(ei ⊗ ej ) = Lij ei · ej = Lij δij = Lii . (2.7)

A tensor is hence an operator whose sum of the components on the diagonal,

trL = L11 + L22 + L33 ,

is constant, regardless of the basis.

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Following the same procedure above, it is readily seen that

trL = trL,

which implies, by linearity, that

trL = 0 ∀L ∈ Skw(V). (2.8)

The scalar product of tensors A and B is a positive definite, symmetric

bilinear form defined by

A · B = tr(A B).

This definition implies that, ∀L, M, N ∈ Lin(V), α, β ∈ R,

L · (αM + βN) = αL · M + βL · N,
(αL + βM) · N = αL · N + βM · N,
L · M = M · L,
L · L > 0 ∀L ∈ Lin(V), L · L = 0 ⇐⇒ L = O.

These properties give the rule for computing the scalar product of two
tensors A and B:
A · B = Aij (ei ⊗ ej ) · Bhk (eh ⊗ ek ) = Aij Bhk (ei ⊗ ej ) · (eh ⊗ ek )
= Aij Bhk tr[(ei ⊗ ej ) (eh ⊗ ek )] = Aij Bhk tr[(ej ⊗ ei )(eh ⊗ ek )]
= Aij Bhk tr[ei · eh (ej ⊗ ek )] = Aij Bhk ei · eh ej · ek
= Aij Bhk δih δjk = Aij Bij .
 Second-Rank Tensors 21

As in the case of vectors, the scalar product of two tensors is equal to the
sum of the products of the corresponding components. In a similar manner,
or using Eq. (2.4)1 , it is easily shown that, ∀a, b, c, d ∈ V,

(a ⊗ b) · (c ⊗ d) = a · c b · d = ai bj ci dj ,

while by the same definition of the tensor scalar product,

trL = I · L ∀L ∈ Lin(V).

Similar to vectors, we define the Euclidean norm of a tensor L the

nonnegative scalar, denoted either by L or |L|:
√  
L = |L| = L · L = tr(L L) = Lij Lij

and the distance d(L, M) of two tensors L and M the norm of the tensor
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difference:

d(L, M) := |L − M| = |M − L|.

2.6 Spherical and deviatoric parts

Let L ∈ Sym(V); the spherical part of L is defined by

1
Lsph := trL I
3
and the deviatoric part by

Ldev := L − Lsph

so that

L = Lsph + Ldev .

We remark that
1
trLsph = trL trI = trL ⇒ trLdev = 0,
3
i.e. the deviatoric part is a traceless tensor. Let A, B ∈ Lin(V), then
1 1
Asph · Bdev = trA I · Bdev = trA trBdev = 0, (2.9)
3 3
i.e. any spherical tensor is orthogonal to any deviatoric tensor.
 22 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

The sets

1
Sph(V) := Asph ∈ Lin(V)| Asph = trAI ∀A ∈ Lin(V) ,
3
Dev(V) := Adev ∈ Lin(V)| Adev = A − Asph ∀A ∈ Lin(V)

form two subspaces of Lin(V); the proof is left to the reader. For what is
proved above, Sph(V) and Dev(V) are two mutually orthogonal subspaces
of Lin(V).

2.7 Determinant, inverse of a tensor

The reader is probably familiar with the concept of determinant of a matrix.

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We show here that the determinant of a second-rank tensor can be defined

intrinsically and that it corresponds with the determinant of the matrix that
represents it in any basis of V. For this purpose, we first need to introduce
a mapping:

ω :V ×V ×V →R

is a skew trilinear form if ω(u, v, ·), ω(u, ·, v), and ω(·, u, v) are linear forms
on V and if

ω(u, v, w) = −ω(v, u, w) = −ω(u, w, v) = −ω(w, v, u) ∀u, v, w ∈ V.

(2.10)

Using this definition, we can state the following.

Theorem 6. Three vectors are linearly independent if and only if every

skew trilinear form of them is not null.

Proof. In fact, let u = αv + βw, then for any skew trilinear form ω,

ω(u, v, w) = ω(αv + βw, v, w) = αω(v, v, w) + βω(w, v, w) = 0

because of Eq. (2.10) applied to the permutation of the positions of the two
u and the two w. 
 Second-Rank Tensors 23

It is evident that the set of all the skew trilinear forms is a vector space
and that we denote by Ω, whose null element is the null form ω0 ,

ω0 (u, v, w) = 0 ∀u, v, w ∈ V.

For a given ω(u, v, w) ∈ Ω, any L ∈ Lin(V) induces another form

ωL (u, v, w) ∈ Ω, defined as

ωL (u, v, w) = ω(Lu, Lv, Lw) ∀u, v, w ∈ V.

A key point3 for the following developments is that dim Ω = 1.

This means that ∀ω1 , ω2 = ω0 ∈ Ω, ∃λ ∈ R such that

ω2 (u, v, w) = λω1 (u, v, w) ∀u, v, w ∈ V.

So, ∀L ∈ Lin(V), there must exist λL ∈ R such that

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ω(Lu, Lv, Lw) = ωL (u, v, w) = λL ω(u, v, w) ∀u, v, w ∈ V. (2.11)

The scalar4 λL is the determinant of L, and in the following, it will be

denoted as det L. The determinant of a tensor L is an intrinsic quantity of
L, i.e. it does not depend upon the particular form ω, nor on the basis of V.
In fact, we have never introduced, so far, a basis for defining det L, hence it
cannot depend upon the choice of a basis for V, i.e. det L is tensor-invariant.
Then, if ω a and ω b ∈ Ω, because dim Ω = 1, there exists k ∈ R, k  = 0,
such that

ω b (u, v, w) = k ω a (u, v, w) ∀u, v, w ∈ V ⇒

ω b (Lu, Lv, Lw) = k ω a (Lu, Lv, Lw) →
ωL
b
(u, v, w) = k ωL
a
(u, v, w).

Moreover, by Eq. (2.11), we get

ω a (Lu, Lv, Lw) = ωL

a
(u, v, w) = λaL ω a (u, v, w),
ω b (Lu, Lv, Lw) = ωL
b
(u, v, w) = λbL ω b (u, v, w)

3 The proof of this statement is rather involved and outside of our scope; the interested
reader is referred to the classical textbook by Halmos on linear algebra, Section 31 (see
the bibliography). The theory of the determinants is developed in Section 53.
4 More precisely, det L is the function that associates a scalar with each tensor (Halmos,

Section 53). We can, however, for the sake of practice, identify det L with the scalar
associated with L, without consequences for our purposes.
 24 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

so that
λbL k ω a (u, v, w) = λbL ω b (u, v, w) = ωL
b
(u, v, w)
= k ωL
a
(u, v, w) = λaL k ω a (u, v, w) ⇐⇒ λaL = λbL ,
which proves that det L does not depend upon the skew trilinear form but
only upon L.
The definition given for det L allows us to prove some important
properties. First of all,

det O = 0;

in fact, ∀ω ∈ Ω,

det O ω(u, v, w) = ω(Ou, Ov, Ow) = ω(o, o, o) = 0 ∀u, v, w ∈ V

because ω operates on three identical, i.e. linearly dependent, vectors.

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Moreover, if L = I, then

det I ω(u, v, w) = ω(Iu, Iv, Iw) = ω(u, v, w)

if and only if

det I = 1. (2.12)

A third property is that ∀a, b ∈ V,

det(a ⊗ b) = 0. (2.13)

In fact, if L = a ⊗ b, then

det L ω(u, v, w) = ω(Lu, Lv, Lw) = ω((b · u)a, (b · v)a, (b · w)a) = 0

because the three vectors on which ω ∈ Ω operates are linearly dependent;

with u, v, and w being arbitrary, this implies Eq. (2.13).
An important result is the following.

Theorem 7 (Theorem of Binet). ∀A, B ∈ Lin(V),

det(AB) = det A det B. (2.14)

Proof. ∀ω ∈ Ω and ∀u, v, w ∈ V,

λAB ω(u, v, w) = ω(ABu, ABv, ABw) = ω(A(Bu), A(Bv), A(Bw)) =
λA ω(Bu, Bv, Bw) = λA λB ω(u, v, w) ⇐⇒ λAB = λA λB ,
which proves the theorem. 
 Second-Rank Tensors 25

A tensor L is called singular if det L = 0, otherwise it is non-singular.

Considering Eq. (2.11), with some effort but without major difficulties,
one can see that, if in a basis B of V, we have L = Lij ei ⊗ ej , then

det L = π(1),π(2),π(3) L1,π(1) L2,π(2) L3,π(3) ,

π∈P3

where P3 is the set of all the permutations π of {1, 2, 3} and the i,j,k s are
the components of Ricci’s alternator5 :
⎧
⎨ 1 if {i, j, k} is an even permutation of {1, 2, 3},
i,j,k := 0 if {i, j, k} is not a permutation of {1, 2, 3},
⎩
−1 if {i, j, k} is an odd permutation of {1, 2, 3}.

The above rule for det L coincides with that for calculating the
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determinant of the matrix whose entries are Lij s. This shows that, once a
basis B for V is chosen, det L coincides with the determinant of the matrix
representing it in B and, finally, that

det L = L11 L22 L33 + L12 L23 L31 + L13 L32 L21
(2.15)
− L11 L23 L32 − L22 L13 L31 − L33 L12 L21 .

This result shows immediately that ∀L ∈ Lin(V), and regardless of B, we

have

det L = det L. (2.16)

Using Eq. (2.15), it is not difficult to show that, ∀α ∈ R,

det(I + αL) = 1 + αI1 + α2 I2 + α3 I3 , (2.17)

where I1 , I2 , and I3 are the three principal invariants of L:

tr2 L − trL2
I1 = trL, I2 = , I3 = det L. (2.18)
2

5 We recall that a permutation of an ordered set of n objects is even if it can be obtained

as the product of an even number of transpositions, i.e. exchange of places, of any
couple of its elements and it is odd if the number of transpositions is odd. For the
set {1, 2, 3}, the even permutations are {1, 2, 3}, {3, 1, 2}, {2, 3, 1}, while the odd ones
are {2, 1, 3}, {1, 3, 2}, {3, 2, 1}; any triplet having at least a repeated number is not a
permutation.
 26 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

A tensor L ∈ Lin(V) is said to be invertible if there is a tensor L−1 ∈

Lin(V), called the inverse of L, such that
LL−1 = L−1 L = I. (2.19)
If L is invertible, then L−1 is unique. By the above definition, if L is
invertible, then
u1 = Lu ⇒ u = L−1 u1 .

Theorem 8. Any invertible tensor maps triples of linearly independent

vectors into triples of still linearly independent vectors.

Proof. Let L be an invertible tensor and u1 = Lu, v1 = Lv, w1 = Lw,

where u, v, and w are three linearly independent vectors. Let us suppose
that there exist h, k ∈ R such that
u1 = hv1 + kw1 .
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Then, because L is invertible,

L−1 u1 = L−1 (hv1 + kw1 ) = hL−1 v1 + kL−1 w1 = hv + kw,
which goes against the hypothesis. Consequently, u1 , v1 , and w1 are linearly
independent. 
This result, along with the definition of a determinant, Eq. (2.11), and
Theorem 6, proves the following.
Theorem 9 (Invertibility theorem). L ∈ Lin(V) is invertible ⇐⇒
det L  = 0.

Using the theorem of Binet, Theorem 7, along with Eqs. (2.12) and (2.19),
we get
1
det L−1 = .
det L
Equation (2.19) applied to L−1 , along with the uniqueness of the inverse,
gives immediately that
(L−1 )−1 = L,
while
B−1 A−1 = B−1 A−1 AB(AB)−1 = (AB)−1 .
The operations of transpose and inversion commute:
L (L )−1 = I = L−1 L = I = (L−1 L) = L (L−1 ) ⇒
(L−1 ) = (L )−1 := L− .
 Second-Rank Tensors 27

2.8 Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a tensor

If there exists a λ ∈ R and a v ∈ V, except the null vector, such that

Lv = λv, (2.20)

then λ is an eigenvalue and v an eigenvector, relative to λ, of L. It is

immediate to observe that, thanks to linearity, any eigenvector v of L is
determined to within a multiplier, i.e. that kv is an eigenvector of L too
∀k ∈ R. Often, the multiplier k is fixed in such a way that |v| = 1.
To determine the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a tensor, we rewrite
Eq. (2.20) as

(L − λI)v = o. (2.21)
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The condition for this homogeneous system having a non-null solution is

det(L − λI) = 0;

this is the so-called characteristic or Laplace’s equation. In the case of a

second-rank tensor over V, the Laplace’s equation is an algebraic equation
of degree three with real coefficients. The roots of the Laplace’s equation
are the eigenvalues of L; because the components of L, and hence the
coefficients of the characteristic equation, are all real, then the eigenvalues
of L are all real or one real and two complex conjugate.
For any eigenvalue λi , i = 1, 2, 3, of L, the corresponding eigenvectors
vi can be found by solving Eq. (2.21), once we set λ = λi .
The proper space of L relative to λ is the subspace of Lin(V) composed of
all the vectors that satisfy Eq. (2.21). The multiplicity of λ is the dimension
of its proper space, while the spectrum of L is the set composed of all of its
eigenvalues, each one with its multiplicity.
L has the same eigenvalues of L because the Laplace’s equation is the
same in both the cases:

det(L − λI) = det(L − λI ) = det(L − λI) = det(L − λI).

However, this is not the case for the eigenvectors that are generally different,
as a numerical example can show.
Developing the Laplace’s equation, it is easy to show that it can be
written as

det(L − λI) = −λ3 + I1 λ2 − I2 λ + I3 = 0,

 28 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

which is merely an application of Eq. (2.17). If we denote L3 = LLL, using

Eq. (2.18), one can prove the following.
Theorem 10 (Cayley–Hamilton theorem). ∀L ∈ Lin(V),
L3 − I1 L2 + I2 L − I3 I = O.

A quadratic form defined by L is any form ω : V × V → R of the type

ω = v · Lv;
if ω > 0 ∀v ∈ V, ω = 0 ⇐⇒ v = o, then ω and L are said to be positive
definite. The eigenvalues of a positive definite tensor are positive. In fact,
if λ is an eigenvalue of L, which is positive definite, and v its eigenvector,
then
v · Lv = v · λv = λv2 > 0 ⇐⇒ λ > 0.
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Let v1 and v2 be two eigenvectors of a symmetric tensor L relative to the

eigenvalues λ1 and λ2 , respectively, with λ1 = λ2 . Then,
λ1 v1 · v2 = Lv1 · v2 = Lv2 · v1 = λ2 v2 · v1 ⇐⇒ v1 · v2 = 0.
Actually, symmetric tensors have a particular importance, specified by the
following.
Theorem 11 (Spectral theorem). The eigenvectors of a symmetric
tensor form a basis of V.

This theorem6 is of paramount importance in linear algebra: It proves that

the eigenvalues of a symmetric tensor L are real valued and, remembering
the definition of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, Eq. (2.20), that there exists a
basis BN = {u1 , u2 , u3 } of V composed of eigenvectors of L, i.e. by vectors
that are mutually orthogonal and that remain mutually orthogonal once
transformed by L. Such a basis is called the normal basis.
If λi , i = 1, 2, 3, are the eigenvalues of L, then the components of L in
BN are
Lij = ui · Luj = ui · λj uj = λj δij ,
so finally in BN , we have
L = λi ei ⊗ ei ,

6 The proof of the spectral theorem is omitted here; the interested reader can find a proof
of it in the classical text by Halmos, p. 155, see the suggested texts.
 Second-Rank Tensors 29

i.e. L is diagonal and is completely represented by its eigenvalues. In

addition, it is easy to check that

I1 = λ1 + λ2 + λ3 , I2 = λ1 λ2 + λ2 λ3 + λ3 λ1 , I3 = λ1 λ2 λ3 .

A tensor with a unique eigenvalue λ of multiplicity three is said to be

spherical; in such a case, any basis of V is BN and

L = λI.

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors also have another important property: Let us

consider the quadratic form ω := v · Lv, ∀v ∈ S, defined by a symmetric
tensor L. We look for the directions v ∈ S, whereupon ω is stationary.
Then, we have to solve the constrained problem
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∇v (v · Lv) = o, v ∈ S.

Using Lagrange’s multiplier technique, we solve the equivalent problem

∇(v,λ) (v · Lv − λ(v2 − 1)) = 0,

which restitutes the equation

Lv = λv

and the constraint |v| = 1. The above equation is exactly the one defining
the eigenvalue problem of L: The stationary values (i.e. the maximum
and minimum) of ω hence correspond to two eigenvalues of L and the
directions v, whereupon the stationarity coincides with the respective
eigenvectors.
Two tensors A and B are said to be coaxial if they have the same normal
basis BN , i.e. if they share the same eigenvectors. Let u be an eigenvector
of A, relative to the eigenvalue λA , and of B, relative to λB . Then,

ABu = AλB u = λB Au = λA λB u = λA Bu = BλA u = BAu,

which shows, on the one hand, that Bu is also an eigenvector of A, relative

to the same eigenvalue λA ; in the same way, of course, Au is an eigenvector
of B relative to λB . In other words, this shows that B leaves unchanged
any proper space of A and vice versa. On the other hand, we see that, at
least for what concerns the eigenvectors, two tensors commute if and only if
they are coaxial. Because any vector can be written as a linear combination
 30 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

of the vectors of BN , and for the linearity of tensors, we have finally proved
the following.

Theorem 12 (Commutation theorem). Two tensors commute if and

only if they are coaxial.

2.9 Skew tensors and cross product

Because dim(V) = dim(Skw(V)) = 3, an isomorphism can be established

between V and Skw(V), i.e. between vectors and skew tensors. We establish
hence a way to associate in a unique way a vector to any skew tensor and
inversely. For this purpose, we first introduce the following.

Theorem 13. The spectrum of any tensor W ∈ Skw(V) is {0} and the
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dimension of its proper space is 1.

Proof. This theorem states that zero is the only real eigenvalue of any
skew tensor and that its multiplicity is 1. In fact, let w be an eigenvector
of W relative to the eigenvector λ. Then,

λ2 w2 = Ww · Ww = w · W Ww = −w · WWw
= −w · W(λw) = −λw · Ww = −λ2 w2 ⇐⇒ λ = 0.

Then, if W  = O, its rank is necessarily 2 because det W = 0 ∀W ∈

Skw(V); hence, the equation

Ww = o (2.22)

has ∞1 solutions, i.e. the multiplicity of λ is 1, which proves the theorem.



The last equation also shows the way the isomorphism is constructed:
In fact, using Eq. (2.22), it is easy to check that if w = (a, b, c), then
⎡ ⎤
0 −c b
⎣
w = (a, b, c) ⇐⇒ W = c 0 −a⎦ . (2.23)
−b a 0

The proper space of W is called the axis of W, and it is indicated by A(W):

A(W) := {u ∈ V| Wu = o}.
 Second-Rank Tensors 31

The consequence of what is shown above is that dim A(W) = 1. With

regard to Eq. (2.23), one can easily check that the equation

1
u·u= W·W (2.24)
2
is satisfied only by w and by its opposite −w. Because both these
vectors belong to A(W), choosing one of them corresponds to choosing an
orientation for E, see the next section. We always make our choice according
to Eq. (2.23), which fixes once and for all the isomorphism between V
and Skw(V) that corresponds to any vector w with one and only one
axial tensor W and vice versa, any skew tensor W with a unique axial
vector w.
It is worth noting that the above isomorphism between the vector spaces
V and Skw(V) implies that to any linear combination of vectors a and b
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corresponds an equal linear combination of the corresponding axial tensors

Wa and Wb and vice versa, i.e. ∀a, b ∈ R,

w = αa + βb ⇐⇒ W = αWa + βWb , (2.25)

where W is the axial tensor of w. Such a property is immediately checked

using Eq. (2.23).
It is useful, for further development, to calculate the powers of W:

W2 = WW = −W (−W ) = (WW) = (W2 ) , (2.26)

i.e. W2 is symmetric. Moreover, if we take w ∈ S, which is always possible

because eigenvectors are determined to within an arbitrary multiplier,

W2 u = WWu = w × (w × u) = w · uw − w · wu
(2.27)
= −(I − w ⊗ w)u ⇒ W2 = −(I − w ⊗ w);

we remark that W2 u gives the opposite of the projection of any vector

u ∈ V onto the direction orthogonal to w, see Exercise 2.14.
Applying recursively the previous results,

W3 = WW2 = −W(I − w ⊗ w) = −W + (Ww) ⊗ w= −W,

W4 = WW3 = −W2 ,
(2.28)
W5 = WW4 = −W3 ,
etc.
 32 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

An important property of any couple axial tensor W – axial vector w ∈ S is

1
WW = − |W|2 (I − w ⊗ w), (2.29)
2
while Eq. (2.24) can be generalized to any two axial couples w1 , W1 and
w2 , W2 :

1
w 1 · w2 = W1 · W2 .
2
The proof of these two last properties is rather easy and left to the reader.
We define the cross product of two vectors a and b the vector

a × b = Wa b,
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where Wa is the axial tensor of a. If a = (a1 , a2 , a3 ) and b = (b1 , b2 , b3 ),

then by Eq. (2.23), we get

a × b = (a2 b3 − a3 b2 , a3 b1 − a1 b3 , a1 b2 − a2 b1 ).

It is immediate to check that such a result can also be obtained using Ricci’s
alternator,

a × b = ijk aj bk ei , (2.30)

or even by computing the symbolic determinant,

⎡ ⎤
e1 e2 e3
a × b = det ⎣a1 a2 a3 ⎦ .
b1 b2 b3

The cross product is bilinear: ∀a, b, u ∈ V, α, β ∈ R,

(αa + βb) × u = αa × u + βb × u,
u × (αa + βb) = αu × a + βu × b.

In fact, the first equation above is a consequence of Eq. (2.25), while the
second one is a simple application to axial tensors of the same definition of
tensor.
Three important results concerning the cross product are stated by the
following theorems.
 Second-Rank Tensors 33

Theorem 14 (Condition of parallelism). Two vectors a and b are

parallel, i.e. b = ka, k ∈ R ⇐⇒

a × b = o.

Proof. This property is actually a consequence of the fact that any

eigenvalue of a tensor is determined to within a multiplier:

a × b = Wa b = o ⇐⇒ b = ka, k ∈ R,

for Theorem 13. 

Theorem 15 (Orthogonality property).

a × b · a = a × b · b = 0. (2.31)
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Proof.
a × b · a = Wa b · a = b · Wa a = −b · Wa a = −b · o = 0,
a×b · b = Wa b · b = b · Wa b = −b · Wa b ⇐⇒ a × b · b = 0.


Theorem 16. a × b is the axial vector of the tensor (b ⊗ a − a ⊗ b).

Proof. First of all, by Eq. (2.6), we see that

(b ⊗ a − a ⊗ b) ∈ Skew(V).

Then,

(b ⊗ a − a ⊗ b)(a × b) = a · a × b b − b · a × b a = 0

for Theorem 15. 

Theorem 16 allows us to show another important result about cross

product.

Theorem 17 (Antisymmetry of the cross product). The cross

product is antisymmetric:

a × b = −b × a ∀a, b ∈ V. (2.32)

Proof. Let W1 = (b ⊗ a − a ⊗ b) be the axial tensor of a × b and W2 =

(−a ⊗ b + b ⊗ a) that of −b × a. Evidently, W1 = W2 , which implies
Eq. (2.32) for the isomorphism between V and Lin(V). 
 34 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

This property and, again, Theorem 16 lets us derive the formula for the
double cross product:

u × (v × w) = −(v × w) × u
= −(w ⊗ v − v ⊗ w)u = u · w v − u · v w. (2.33)

Another interesting result concerns the mixed product:

u × v · w = Wu v · w = −v · Wu w = −v · u × w = w × u · v, (2.34)

and similarly,

u × v · w = v × w · u.

Using this last result, we can obtain a formula for the norm of a cross
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product; if a = a ea and b = b eb , with ea , eb ∈ S, are two vectors forming

the angle θ, then

(a × b) · (a × b) = a × b · (a × b) = (a × b) × a · b
= −a × (a × b) · b = (−a · b a + a2 b) · b = b · (a2 I − a ⊗ a)b
(2.35)
= a2 b · (I − ea ⊗ ea )b = a2 b2 eb · (I − ea ⊗ ea )eb
= a2 b2 (1 − cos2 θ) = a2 b2 sin2 θ → |a × b| = ab sin θ.

So, the norm of a cross product can be interpreted, geometrically, as the

area of the parallelogram spanned by the two vectors. As a consequence,
the absolute value of the mixed product (2.34) measures the volume of the
prism delimited by three non-coplanar vectors, cf. Fig. 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Geometrical meaning of the cross and mixed products before (left) and after
(right) the application of a tensor L on the vectors u, v, w.
 Second-Rank Tensors 35

Because the cross product is antisymmetric and the scalar one is

symmetric, it is easy to check that the form

β(u, v, w) = u × v · w

is a skew trilinear form. Then, by Eq. (2.11), we get

Lu × Lv · Lw = det L u × v · w. (2.36)

Following the interpretation given above for the absolute value of the mixed
product, we can conclude that | det L| can be interpreted as a coefficient of
volume expansion7 cf. again Fig. 2.1. A geometrical interpretation can then
be given to the case of a non-invertible tensor, i.e. of det L = 0: It crushes
a prism into a flat region (the three original vectors become coplanar, i.e.
linearly dependent).
The adjugate of L is the tensor
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L∗ := (det L)L− .

From Eq. (2.36), we get hence

det L u × v · w = Lu × Lv · Lw = L (Lu × Lv) · w ∀w
⇒ Lu × Lv = L∗ (u × v).

2.10 Orientation of a basis

It is immediate to observe that a basis B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } can be oriented in

two opposite ways8 : For example, once two unit mutually orthogonal vectors
e1 and e2 are chosen, there are two opposite unit vectors perpendicular to
both e1 and e2 that can be chosen to form B.
We say that B is positively oriented or right-handed if

e1 × e2 · e3 = 1,

while B is negatively oriented or left-handed if

e1 × e2 · e3 = −1.

Schematically, a right-handed basis is represented in Fig. 2.2, where a left-

handed basis is represented too with a dashed e3 .

7 This result is classical and fundamental for the analysis of deformation in continuum
mechanics.
8 It is evident that this is also true for one- and two-dimensional vector spaces.
 36 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 2.2: Right- and left-handed bases.

With a right-handed basis, by definition, the axial tensors of the three

vectors of the basis are
We1 = e3 ⊗ e2 − e2 ⊗ e3 ,
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We2 = e1 ⊗ e3 − e3 ⊗ e1 ,
We3 = e2 ⊗ e1 − e1 ⊗ e2 .

2.11 Rotations

In the previous chapter, we have seen that the elements of V represent

translations over E. A rotation, i.e. a rigid rotation of the space, is an
operation that transforms any two vectors u, v ∈ V into two other vectors
ˆ v̂ ∈ V in such a way that
u,

u = û, v = v̂, u · v = û · v̂, (2.37)

i.e. a rotation is a transformation that preserves norms and angles. Because

a rotation is a transformation from V to V, rotations are tensors, so we can
write

v̂ = Rv,

with R the rotation tensor or simply rotation.

Conditions (2.37) impose some restrictions on R:

ˆ · v̂ = Ru · Rv = u · R Rv = u · v ⇐⇒ R R = I = RR .
u

A tensor that preserves the angles belongs to Orth(V), the subspace of

orthogonal tensors; we leave to the reader the proof that Orth(V) is actually
a subspace of Lin(V). Replacing in the above equation v with u shows
 Second-Rank Tensors 37

immediately that an orthogonal tensor also preserves the norms. By the

uniqueness of the inverse, we see that

R ∈ Orth(V) ⇐⇒ R−1 = R .

The above condition is not sufficient to characterize a rotation; in fact,

a rotation must transform a right-handed basis into another right-handed
basis, i.e. it must preserve the orientation of the space. This means that it
must be

ˆ1 × ê2 · ê3 = Re1 × Re2 · Re3 = e1 × e2 · e3 .

e

By Eq. (2.36), we get hence the condition9

det R(e1 × e2 · e3 ) = e1 × e2 · e3 ⇐⇒ det R = 1.

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The tensors of Orth(V) that have a determinant equal to 1 form the

subspace of proper rotations or simply rotations, indicated by Orth(V)+ or
also by SO(3). Only tensors of Orth(V)+ represent rigid rotations of E 10 .

Theorem 18. Each tensor R ∈ Orth(V) has the eigenvalue ±1, with +1
for rotations.

Proof. Let u be an eigenvector of R ∈ Orth(V) corresponding to the

eigenvalue λ. Because R preserves the norm, we have

Ru · Ru = λ2 u2 = u2 → λ2 = 1.

We must now prove that there exists at least one real eigenvector λ. To this
end, we consider the characteristic equation

f (λ) = λ3 + k1 λ2 + k2 λ + k3 = 0,

whose coefficients ki are real-valued because R has real-valued components.

It is immediate to recognize that

lim f (λ) = ±∞.

λ→±∞

9 From the condition R R = I and through Eq. (2.16) and the theorem of Binet, we

recognize immediately that det R = ±1 ∀R ∈ Orth(V).

10 A tensor S ∈ Orth(V) such that det S = −1 represents a transformation that changes

the orientation of the space, like mirror symmetries do, see Section 2.12.
 38 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

So, because f (λ) is a real-valued continuous function, actually a polynomial

of λ, there exists at least one λ1 ∈ R such that

f (λ1 ) = 0.

In addition, we already know that ∀R ∈ Orth(V), det R = ±1 and that,

if λi , i = 1, 2, 3 are the eigenvalues of R, then det R = λ1 λ2 λ3 . Hence, the
following two are the possible cases:

(i) λ1 ∈ R and λ2 , λ3 ∈ C, with λ3 = λ2 , the complex conjugate of λ2 ;

(ii) λi ∈ R ∀i = 1, 2, 3.

Let us consider the case of R ∈ Orth(V)+ , i.e. a (proper) rotation →

det R = 1. Then, in the first case above,
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det R = λ1 λ2 λ2 = λ1 [2 (λ2 ) + 2 (λ2 )].

But

2 (λ2 ) + 2 (λ2 ) = 1

because it is the square of the modulus of the complex eigenvalue λ2 . So,

in this case,

det R = 1 ⇐⇒ λ1 = 1.

In the second case, λi ∈ R ∀i = 1, 2, 3, either λ1 > 0, λ2 , λ3 < 0 or all of

them are positive. Because the modulus of each eigenvalue must be equal
to 1, either λ1 = 1 or λi = 1 ∀i = 1, 2, 3 (in this case, R = I).
Following the same steps, one can easily show that ∀S ∈ Orth(V) with
det S = −1, there exists at least one real eigenvalue λ1 = −1. 

Generally, a rotation tensor rotates the basis B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } into the

basis B̂ = {e
ˆ1 , ê2 , ê3 }:

Rei = êi ∀i = 1, 2, 3 ⇒ Rij = ei · Rej = ei · êj . (2.38)

This result actually means that the jth column of R is composed of the
components in the basis B of the vector êj of B̂. Because the two bases
are orthonormal, such components are the director cosines of the axes of B̂
with respect to B.
 Second-Rank Tensors 39

Geometrically, any rotation is characterized by an axis of rotation

w, |w| = 1, and by an amplitude ϕ, i.e. the angle through which the space is
rotated about w. By definition, w is the (only) vector that is left unchanged
by R, i.e.
Rw = w,
or, in other words, it is the eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue +1.
The question is then: How can a rotation tensor R be expressed by
means of its geometrical parameters, w and ϕ? To this end, we have a
fundamental theorem.
Theorem 19 (Euler’s rotation representation theorem). ∀R ∈
Orth(V)+ ,
R = I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 , (2.39)
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with ϕ the rotation’s amplitude and W the axial tensor of the rotation
axis w.

Proof. We observe preliminarily that

Rw = Iw + sin ϕWw + (1 − cos ϕ)WWw = Iw = w, (2.40)
i.e. that Eq. (2.39) actually defines a transformation that leaves unchanged
the axis w, like a rotation about w must do, and that +1 is an eigenvalue
of R.
We need now to prove that Eq. (2.39) actually represents a rotation
tensor, i.e. we must prove that
RR = I, det R = 1.
Through Eq. (2.28), we get
RR = (I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )(I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )
= (I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )(I − sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )
= I + 2(1 − cos ϕ)W2 − sin2 ϕW2 + (1 − cos ϕ)2 W4
= I + 2(1 − cos ϕ)W2 − sin2 ϕW2 − (1 − cos ϕ)2 W2 = I.
Then, through Eq. (2.27), we obtain
R = I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2
= I + sin ϕW − (1 − cos ϕ)(I − w ⊗ w) (2.41)
= cos ϕI + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)w ⊗ w.
 40 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

To go on, we need to express W and w ⊗ w; if w = (w1 , w2 , w3 ), then by

Eq. (2.23), we have

⎡ ⎤
0 −w3 w2
W = ⎣ w3 0 −w1 ⎦,
−w2 w1 0

and by Eq. (2.2),

⎡ ⎤
w12 w1 w2 w1 w3
⎣
w ⊗ w = w1 w2 w22 w2 w3 ⎦ ,
w1 w3 w2 w3 w32
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which on injecting into Eq. (2.41) gives

⎡ 2 ⎤
cos ϕ + (1 − cos ϕ)w1 −w3 sin ϕ + w1 w2 (1 − cos ϕ) w2 sin ϕ + w1 w3 (1 − cos ϕ)
⎢ ⎥
R = ⎢ w3 sin ϕ + w1 w2 (1 − cos ϕ) 2
cos ϕ + (1 − cos ϕ)w2 −w1 sin ϕ + w2 w3 (1 − cos ϕ)⎥.
⎣ ⎦
−w2 sin ϕ + w1 w3 (1 − cos ϕ) w1 sin ϕ + w2 w3 (1 − cos ϕ) 2
cos ϕ + (1 − cos ϕ)w3
(2.42)

This formula gives R as a function exclusively of w and ϕ, the geometrical

elements of the rotation. Then,

det R = (w2 + (1 − w2 ) cos ϕ)(cos2 ϕ + w2 sin2 ϕ),

and because w = 1, det R = 1, which proves that Eq. (2.39) actually

represents a rotation.
We eventually need to prove that Eq. (2.39) represents the rotation
about w of amplitude ϕ. To this end, we choose an orthonormal basis
B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } of V such that w = e3 , i.e. we analyze the particular case
of a rotation of amplitude ϕ about e3 . This is always possible thanks to the
arbitrariness of the basis of V. In such a case, Eq. (2.38) gives

⎡ ⎤
cos ϕ − sin ϕ 0
⎣
R = sin ϕ cos ϕ 0⎦ . (2.43)
0 0 1
 Second-Rank Tensors 41

Moreover,
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
0 −1 0 0 0 0
W = ⎣ 1 0 0⎦ , w ⊗ w = ⎣0 0 0⎦,
0 0 0 0 0 1
⎡ ⎤
−1 0 0
W2 = −(I − w ⊗ w) = ⎣ 0 −1 0⎦.
0 0 0

Hence,
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
1 0 0 0 −1 0
I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 = ⎣0 1 0⎦ + sin ϕ ⎣1 0 0⎦
0 0 1 0 0 0
⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤ (2.44)
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−1 0 0 cos ϕ − sin ϕ 0
+ (1 − cos ϕ) ⎣ 0 −1 0⎦ = ⎣ sin ϕ cos ϕ 0⎦ = R.
0 0 0 0 0 1


Equation (2.39) gives another result: To obtain the inverse of R, it is

sufficient to change the sign of ϕ. In fact, because W ∈ Skw(V) and through
Eq. (2.26),

R−1 = R = (I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )

= I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)(W2 )
= I − sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2
= I + sin(−ϕ)W + (1 − cos(−ϕ))W2 .

The knowledge of the inverse of a rotation also allows us to perform

the operation of change of basis, i.e. to determine the components of a
vector or of a tensor in a basis B̂ = {e ˆ1 , ê2 , ê3 } rotated with respect to an
original basis B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } by a rotation R (in the following equations,
the symbol ˆ indicates a quantity specified in the basis B̂). Considering
that

ei = R−1 e
ˆ i = R e 
ˆi = Rhk 
(êh ⊗ êk )êi = Rhk δki e
ˆh ,

we get, for a vector u,


u = ui ei = Rki ui e
ˆk ,
 42 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

i.e.

u
ˆk = Rki ui → û = R u.

We remark that, because R = R−1 , the operation of change of basis is

just the opposite of the rotation of the space (and actually, we have seen
that it is sufficient to take the opposite of ϕ in Eq. (2.39) to get R−1 ).
For a second-rank tensor L, we get
   
L = Lij ei ⊗ ej = Lij Rmi ˆm ⊗ Rnj
e ˆn = Rmi
e Rnj Lij e
ˆm ⊗ ên ,

i.e.
  
L̂mn = Rmi Rnj Lij = Rmi Lij Rjn → L̂ = R LR.
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We remark something that is typical of tensors: The components of

a r-rank tensor in a rotated basis B̂ depend upon the rth powers of the
director cosines of the axes of B̂, i.e. on the rth powers of the components
Rij of R.
If a rotation tensor is known through its Cartesian components in a
given basis B, it is easy to calculate its geometrical elements: The rotation
axis w is the eigenvector of R corresponding to the eigenvalue 1, so it is
found by solving the equation

Rw = w

and then normalizing it, while the rotation amplitude ϕ can be found using
(2.39) along with (2.27): Because the trace of a tensor is invariant, we get

trR − 1
trR = 3 + (1 − cos ϕ)tr(−I + w ⊗ w) = 1 + 2 cos ϕ → ϕ = arccos .
2
It is interesting to consider the geometrical meaning of Eq. (2.39). For this
purpose, we apply Eq. (2.39) to a vector u, see Fig. 2.3:

Ru = (I + sin ϕW + (1 − cos ϕ)W2 )u

= u + sin ϕw × u + (1 − cos ϕ)w × (w × u).

The rotated vector Ru is the sum of three vectors; in particular,

sin ϕWu is always orthogonal to u, w, and (1 − cos ϕ)W2 u. If u · w = 0,
then (1 − cos ϕ)W2 u is also parallel to u, see the sketch on the right in
Fig. 2.3.
 Second-Rank Tensors 43

Figure 2.3: Rotation of a vector.

Let us consider now a composition of rotations. In particular, let us

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imagine that a vector u is rotated first by R1 around w1 through ϕ1 , then

by R2 around w2 through ϕ2 . So, first, the vector u becomes the vector

u1 = R1 u.

Then, the vector u1 is rotated about w2 through ϕ2 to become

u12 = R2 u1 = R2 R1 u.

Let us now suppose that we change the order of the rotations: R2 first and
then R1 . The final result will be the vector

u21 = R1 R2 u. (2.45)

Because the tensor product is not symmetric (i.e. it does not have the
commutativity property), generally,11

u12 = u21 .

In other words, the order of the rotations matters: Changing the order of the
rotations leads to a different final result. An example is shown in Fig. 2.4.

11 We have seen, in Theorem 12, that two tensors commute ⇐⇒ they are coaxial, i.e. if

they have the same eigenvectors. Because the rotation axis is always a real eigenvector
of a rotation tensor, if two tensors operate a rotation about different axes, they are not
coaxial. Hence, the rotation tensors about different axes never commute.
 44 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 2.4: Non-commutativity of the rotations.

This is a fundamental difference between rotations and displacements

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that commute, see Fig. 1.2, because the composition of displacements is

ruled by the sum of vectors:

w = u + v = v + u. (2.46)

This difference, which is a major point in physics, comes from the difference
in the operators: vectors for the displacements and tensors for the rotations.
Any rotation can be specified by the knowledge of three parameters.
This can be easily seen from Eq. (2.39): The parameters are the three
components of w that are not independent because

w = |w| = w12 + w22 + w32 = 1

and by the amplitude angle ϕ. The choice of the parameters by which

to express a rotation is not unique. Besides the use of the Cartesian
components of w and ϕ, cf. Eq. (2.42), other choices are possible, let us see
three of them:

(i) Physical angles: The rotation axis w is given through its spherical
coordinates ψ, the longitude, 0 ≤ ψ < 2π, and θ, the colatitude, 0 ≤
θ ≤ π, see Fig. 2.5, the third parameter being the rotation amplitude ϕ.
Then,
w2
w = (sin θ cos ψ, sin θ sin ψ, cos θ) → θ = arccos w3 , ψ = arctan ,
w1
 Second-Rank Tensors 45

Figure 2.5: Physical angles.

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and, Eq. (2.42),

⎡ ⎤
cψ 2 sθ 2 + cϕ(cθ 2 + sψ 2 sθ 2 ) sψcψsθ 2 (1 − cϕ) − cθsϕ cψsθcθ(1 − cϕ) + sψsθsϕ
⎢ ⎥
R =⎢ sψcψsθ 2 (1 − cϕ) + cθsϕ sψ 2 sθ 2 + cϕ(cθ 2 + cψ 2 sθ 2 ) sψsθcθ(1 − cϕ) − cψsθsϕ ⎥,
⎣ ⎦
cψsθcθ(1 − cϕ) − sψsθsϕ sψsθcθ(1 − cϕ) + cψsθsϕ cθ 2 + cϕ(cψ 2 sθ 2 + sψ 2 sθ 2 )

where cψ = cos ψ, sψ = sin ψ, cθ = cos θ, sθ = sin θ, cϕ = cos ϕ, and

sϕ = sin ϕ. We remark that all the components of R so expressed
depend upon the first powers of the circular functions of ϕ. Hence,
for what is said above, with this representation of the rotations, the
components of a rotated r-rank tensor depend upon the rth power of
the circular functions of ϕ, i.e. of the physical rotation, but not of ψ
nor of θ.
(ii) Euler’s angles: In this case, the three parameters are the amplitude of
three particular rotations into which the rotation is decomposed. Such
parameters are the angles ψ, the precession, θ, the nutation, and ϕ,
the proper rotation, see Fig. 2.6. These three rotations are represented
in Fig. 2.7. The first one, of amplitude ψ, is made about z to carry the
axis x onto the knots line xN , the line perpendicular to both the axes
z and ẑ, and y onto y; by Eq. (2.38), in the frame {x, y, z}, it is
⎡ ⎤
cos ψ − sin ψ 0
Rψ = ⎣ sin ψ cos ψ 0⎦ .
0 0 1
 46 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 2.6: Euler’s angles.

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Figure 2.7: Euler’s rotations, as seen from the respective axes of rotation.

The second one, of amplitude θ, is made about xN to carry z onto ẑ;

in the frame {xN , y, z}, it is

⎡ ⎤
1 0 0
Rθ = ⎣0 cos θ − sin θ⎦ ,
0 sin θ cos θ

while in the frame {x, y, z},

Roθ = (R−1  −1 
ψ ) Rθ Rψ = Rψ Rθ Rψ .
 Second-Rank Tensors 47

The last rotation, of amplitude ϕ, is made about ẑ to carry xN onto

x̂ and y onto ŷ; in the frame {xN , y, ẑ}, it is
⎡ ⎤
cos ϕ − sin ϕ 0
Rϕ = ⎣ sin ϕ cos ϕ 0⎦,
0 0 1

while in {x, y, z},

Roϕ = (R−1  −1  −1 −1  
ψ ) (Rθ ) Rϕ Rθ Rψ = Rψ Rθ Rϕ Rθ Rψ .

Any vector u is transformed, by the global rotation, into the vector

ˆ = Ru.
u
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But we can also write

ˆ = Roϕ u,
u

where u is the vector transformed by the rotation Roθ ,

u = Roθ u,

and u is the vector transformed by the rotation Rψ :

u = Rψ u.

Finally,

ˆ = Ru = Roϕ Roθ Rψ u → R = Roϕ Roθ Rψ ,

u

i.e. the global rotation tensor is obtained by composing, in the opposite

order of execution of the rotations, the three tensors all expressed in
the original basis. However,

R = Roϕ Roθ Rψ = Rψ Rθ Rϕ R  
θ Rψ Rψ Rθ Rψ Rψ = Rψ Rθ Rϕ ,

i.e. the global rotation tensor is also equal to the composition of the
three rotations, in the order of execution, if the three rotations are
expressed in their own particular bases. This result is general and not
bounded to the Euler’s rotations nor to three rotations.
 48 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Performing the tensor multiplications, we get

⎡ ⎤
cos ψ cos ϕ − sin ψ sin ϕ cos θ − cos ψ sin ϕ − sin ψ cos ϕ cos θ sin ψ sin θ
⎢ ⎥
R=⎢
⎣sin ψ cos ϕ + cos ψ sin ϕ cos θ − sin ψ sin ϕ + cos ψ cos ϕ cos θ − cos ψ sin θ ⎥
⎦.
sin ϕ sin θ cos ϕ sin θ cos θ

The components of a vector u in the basis B̂ are then given by

ˆ = R u = R 
u  
ϕ Rθ Rψ u

and those of a second-rank tensor by

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L̂ = R LR = R  
ϕ Rθ Rψ LRψ Rθ Rϕ .

(iii) Coordinate angles: In this case, the rotation R is decomposed into

three successive rotations α, β, and γ, respectively, about the axes x,
y, and z of each rotation, i.e.

R = Rα Rβ Rγ

with

⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
1 0 0 cos β 0 − sin β
Rα = ⎣0 cos α − sin α⎦ , Rβ = ⎣ 0 1 0 ⎦,
0 sin α cos α sin β 0 cos β
⎡ ⎤
cos γ − sin γ 0
Rγ = ⎣ sin γ cos γ 0⎦,
0 0 1

so finally,

⎡ ⎤
cos β cos γ − cos β sin γ − sin β
⎢ ⎥
R=⎢
⎣ cos α sin γ − sin α sin β cos γ cos α cos γ + sin α sin β sin γ − sin α cos β ⎥
⎦.
sin α sin γ + cos α sin β cos γ sin α cos γ − cos α sin β sin γ cos α cos β
 Second-Rank Tensors 49

Let us now consider the case of small rotations, i.e. |ϕ| → 0. In such a case,

sin ϕ  ϕ, 1 − cos ϕ  0,

and

R  I + ϕW,

i.e. in the small rotations approximation, any vector u is transformed into

Ru  (I + ϕW)u = u + ϕw × u, (2.47)

i.e. by a skew tensor and not by a rotation tensor. The term (1−cos ϕ)W2 u
has disappeared, as it is a higher-order infinitesimal quantity, and the term
ϕw × u is orthogonal to u. Because ϕ → 0, the arc is approximated by
its tangent, the vector ϕw × u, see Fig. 2.8. Applying to Eq. (2.47) the
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procedure already seen for the composition of finite amplitude rotations,

we get

u1 = R1 u = (I + ϕ1 W1 )u = u + ϕ1 w1 × u,
u21 = R2 u1 = (I + ϕ2 W2 )u1 = u1 + ϕ2 w2 × u1
= u + ϕ1 w1 × u + ϕ2 w2 × u
+ ϕ1 ϕ2 w2 × (w1 × u).

If the order of the rotations is changed, the last term becomes ϕ1 ϕ2 w1 ×

(w2 × u), which is, in general, different from ϕ1 ϕ2 w2 × (w1 × u): To be

Figure 2.8: Small rotations.

 50 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

precise, small rotations also do not commute.12 However, for small rota-
tions, ϕ1 ϕ2 is negligible with respect to ϕ1 and ϕ2 : In this approximation,
small rotations commute. We remark that approximation (2.47) gives, for
the displacements, a law that is quite similar to that of the velocities of the
points of a rigid body:
v = v0 + ω × (p − o).
This is quite natural because
dϕ
ω=,
dt
i.e. a small amplitude rotation can be seen as a rotation made with finite
angular velocity ω in a small time interval dt.

2.12 Reflexions
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Let us consider now tensors S ∈ Orth(V) that are not rotations, i.e. such
that det S = −1. Let us call S an improper rotation. A particular improper
rotation whose all eigenvalues are equal to −1 is the inversion or reflexion
tensor:
SI = −I.
The effect of SI is to transform any basis B into the basis −B, i.e. with all the
basis vectors changed in orientation (or, equivalently, to change the sign of
all the components of a vector). In other words, SI changes the orientation
of the space. This is also the effect of any other improper rotation S that
can be decomposed into a proper rotation R followed by the reflexion SI 13 :
S = SI R. (2.48)
Let n ∈ S, then
SR = I − 2n ⊗ n (2.49)
is the tensor that operates the transformation of symmetry with respect to
a plane orthogonal to n. In fact,
SR n = −n, SR m = m ∀m ∈ V| m · n = 0.

12 This can happen for some vectors all the times when w1 · u = w2 · u, like for the case
of a vector u orthogonal to both w1 and w2 ; however, this is no more than a curiosity,
it has no importance in practice.
13 The application of Binet’s theorem shows immediately that det S = −1, while

SI R(SI R) = SI RR S I = −I(−I)

 = I: The decomposition in Eq. (2.48) actually

gives an improper rotation.

 Second-Rank Tensors 51

SR is an improper rotation; in fact, by Eq. (2.4),

(I − 2n ⊗ n)(I − 2n ⊗ n) = (I − 2n ⊗ n)(I − 2n ⊗ n)

= I − 2n ⊗ n − 2n ⊗ n + 4(n ⊗ n)(n ⊗ n) = I,

while by the same definition of trace and through Eqs. (2.13) and (2.17),

tr2 (n ⊗ n) − tr(n ⊗ n)(n ⊗ n)

det(I − 2n ⊗ n) = 1 − 2tr(n ⊗ n) + 4
2
−8 det(n ⊗ n) = −1.

Let S = SI R be an improper rotation, then

 
(Su) × (Sv) = (SI Ru) × (SI Rv) = det(SI R) (SI R)−1 (u × v)
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= det SI det R(R−1 S−1 

I ) (u × v)

= −(−R−1 I) (u × v) = R(u × v).

The transformation by S of any vector u gives

Su = SI Ru = −Ru,

i.e. it changes the orientation of the rotated vector; this is not the case
when the same improper rotation transforms the vectors of a cross product:
The rotated vector result of the cross product does not cause a change in
orientation, i.e. the cross product is insensitive to a reflexion. That is why, to
be precise, the result of a cross product is not a vector but a pseudo-vector:
It behaves like a vector apart from the reflexions. For the same reason, a
scalar result of a mixed product (scalar plus cross product of three vectors)
is called a pseudo-scalar because in this case, the scalar result of the mixed
product causes a change in sign under a reflexion, which can be checked
easily.

2.13 Polar decomposition

Theorem 20 (Square root theorem). Consider L ∈ Sym(V) and

positive definite, then there exists a unique tensor U ∈ Sym(V) and positive
definite such that

L = U2 .
 52 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof. Existence: Consider L, U, V ∈ Sym(V) and positive definite and

L = ωi ei ⊗ ei

a spectral decomposition of L, ωi > 0 ∀i. Define U as

√
U= ω i ei ⊗ ei ;

then, by Eq. (2.4)1 , we get

U2 = L.

Uniqueness: Suppose also that

V2 = L,
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and let e be an eigenvector of L corresponding to the (positive) eigenvalue

√
ω. Then, if λ = ω,

O = (U2 − λI)e = (U − λI)(U − λI)e,

and once we set

v = (U − λI)e,

we get

Uv = −λv ⇒ v = o ⇒ Ue = λe

because U is positive definite and −λ cannot be an eigenvalue of U because

λ > 0. In a similar way,

Ve = λe ⇒ Ue = Ve

for every eigenvector e of L. Because, based on spectral theorem, there

exists a basis of eigenvectors of L, U = V. 

We symbolically write that

√
U= L.

For any F ∈ Lin(V), both FF and F F clearly ∈ Sym(V). If in

addition det F > 0, then

u · F Fu = (Fu) · (Fu) ≥ 0,
 Second-Rank Tensors 53

with the zero value obtained ⇐⇒ Fu = o and, because det F > 0 ⇒ F

is invertible, ⇐⇒ u = o. As a consequence, F F is positive definite. In a
similar way, it can be proved that FF is also positive definite.
A particular tensor decomposition14 is given by the following.

Theorem 21 (Polar decomposition theorem). ∀F ∈ Lin(V)| det F >

0 exist and are uniquely determined by two positive definite tensors U, V ∈
Sym(V) and a rotation R such that

F = RU = VR.

Proof. Uniqueness: Let F = RU be a right polar decomposition of F;

because R ∈ Orth(V)+ and U ∈ Sym(V),
√
F F = UR RU = U2 ⇒ U = F F.
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By the square-root theorem, tensor U is unique, and because

R = FU−1 ,

R is unique too.
Now, let F = VR be a left polar decomposition of F; by the same
procedure, we get
√
FF = V2 → V = FF ,

so V is unique, and also,

R = V−1 F.

Existence: Let
√
U= F F,

so U ∈ Sym(V) and it is positive definite, and let

R = FU−1 .

To prove that F = RU is a right polar decomposition, we just have to

show that R ∈ Orth(V)+ . Since det F > 0, det U > 0 (the latter because

14 This decomposition is fundamental to the theory of deformation of continuum bodies.

 54 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

all the eigenvalues of U are strictly positive), by the theorem of Binet, also
det R > 0. Then,
R R = (FU−1 ) (FU−1 ) = U−1 F FU−1 = U−1 U2 U−1
= I ⇒ R ∈ Orth(V)+ .
Now, let
V = RUR ,
then V ∈ Sym(V) and is positive definite, see Exercise 2.14, and
VR = RUR R = RU = F,
which completes the proof. 
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2.14 Exercises

1. Prove that
Lo = o ∀L ∈ Lin(V).
2. Prove that, if a straight line r has the direction of u ∈ S, then the tensor
giving the projection of a vector v ∈ V on r is u ⊗ u (the orthogonal
projector), while the one giving the projection on a direction orthogonal
to r is I − u ⊗ u (the complementary projector), see Fig. 2.9.
3. For any α ∈ R, a, b ∈ V and A, B ∈ Lin(V), prove that
(αA) = αA , (A + B) = A + B , (a ⊗ b)A = a ⊗ (A b).
4. Prove that
L + O = L ∀L ∈ Lin(V).

Figure 2.9: Projected vectors.

 Second-Rank Tensors 55

5. Prove that

trI = 3, trO = 0.

6. Prove that, ∀A, B ∈ Lin(V),

tr(AB) = tr(BA).

7. Prove that, ∀L, M, N ∈ Lin(V),

L · M = L · M, LM · N = L · NM = M · L N.

8. Prove the assertions in Eq. (2.4).

9. Prove that any form defined by a tensor L can be written as a scalar
product of tensors:
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v · Lw = L · v ⊗ w ∀v, w ∈ V, L ∈ Lin(V).

10. Prove that Sym(V) and Skw(V) are orthogonal, i.e. prove that

A · B = 0 ∀A ∈ Sym(V), B ∈ Skw(V).

11. For any L ∈ Lin(V), prove that, if A ∈ Sym(V), then

A · L = A · Ls ,

while if B ∈ Skw(V), then

B · L = B · La .

12. Let A, B, C, D ∈ Lin(V); prove that

A · (BCD) = (B A) · (CD) = (AD ) · (BC).

13. Prove that L · W = 0 ∀W ∈ Skw(V) ⇐⇒ L ∈ Sym(V).

14. Express by components the second principal invariant I2 of a tensor L.
15. Prove that if a = (a1 , a2 , a3 ), b = (b1 , b2 , b3 ), c = (c1 , c2 , c3 ), then
⎡ ⎤
a1 a2 a3
a × b · c = det ⎣ b1 b2 b3 ⎦ .
c1 c2 c3

16. Prove the uniqueness of the inverse tensor.

17. Show, using the Cartesian components, that all the dyads are singular.
 56 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

18. Prove that if L is invertible and α ∈ R − {0}, then

(αL)−1 = α−1 L−1 .
19. Prove that if W is the axial tensor of w, then
1
WW = − |W|2 (I − w ⊗ w).
2
20. Prove that for any two axial couples w1 , W1 and w2 , W2 , we have
1
w1 · w2 = W1 · W2 .
2
21. Prove that ∀u, v ∈ V, u × v = o ⇐⇒ u ⊗ v ∈ Sym(V).
22. Let L ∈ Sym(V) and positive definite and R ∈ Orth(V)+ , then prove
that RLR ∈ Sym(V) and that it is positive definite.
23. Prove that the spectrum of Lsph is composed of only
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1
λsph = trL
3
and that any u ∈ S is an eigenvector.
24. Prove that the eigenvalues λdev of Ldev are given by
λdev = λ − λsph ,
where λ is an eigenvalue of L.
 Chapter 3

Fourth-Rank Tensors
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3.1 Fourth-rank tensors

A fourth-rank tensor L is any linear application from Lin(V) to Lin(V):

L : Lin(V) → Lin(V) | L(αi Ai ) = αi LAi ∀αi ∈ R, Ai ∈ Lin(V),
i = 1, . . . , n.
Defining the sum of two fourth-rank tensors as
(L1 + L2 )A = L1 A + L2 A ∀A ∈ Lin(V),
the product of a scalar by a fourth-rank tensor as
(αL)A = α(LA) ∀α ∈ R, A ∈ Lin(V),
and the null fourth-rank tensor O as the unique tensor such that
OA = O ∀A ∈ Lin(V),
then the set of all the tensors L that operate on Lin(V) forms a vector
space, denoted by Lin(V). We define the fourth-rank identity tensor I as a
unique tensor such that
IA = A ∀A ∈ Lin(V).
It is apparent that the algebra of fourth-rank tensors is similar to that of
second-rank tensors, and in fact, several operations with fourth-rank tensors
can be introduced in almost the same way, in some sense the operations
shifting from V to Lin(V). However, the algebra of fourth-rank tensors is
richer than that of the second-rank ones, and some care must be taken.
In the following sections, we consider some of the operations that can
be done with fourth-rank tensors.

57
 58 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

3.2 Dyads, tensor components

For any couple of tensors A and B ∈ Lin(V), the (tensor) dyad A ⊗ B is

the fourth-rank tensor defined by
(A ⊗ B)L := B · L A ∀L ∈ Lin(V).
The application defined above is actually a fourth-rank tensor because of
the bilinearity of the scalar product of second-rank tensors. Applying this
rule to the nine dyads of the basis B 2 = {ei ⊗ ej , i, j = 1, 2, 3} of Lin(V)
leads to the introduction of 81 fourth-rank tensors,
ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el := (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el ),
that form a basis B 4 = {ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el , i, j = 1, 2, 3} for Lin(V). We
remark hence that dim(Lin(V)) = 81. A useful result is that
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(ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )(ep ⊗ eq )
= (ek ⊗ el ) · (ep ⊗ eq )(ei ⊗ ej ) = δkp δlq (ei ⊗ ej ). (3.1)
Any fourth-rank tensor can be expressed as a linear combination (the
canonical decomposition):
L = Lijkl ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el , i, j = 1, 2, 3,
where Lijkl s are the 81 Cartesian components of L with respect to B 4 . Lijkl s
are defined by the operation
(ei ⊗ ej ) · L(ek ⊗ el ) = (ei · ej ) · (Lpqrs ep ⊗ eq ⊗ er ⊗ es )(ek ⊗ el )
= (ei ⊗ ej ) · (Lpqrs δrk δsl ep ⊗ eq )
= Lpqrs δrk δsl δip δjq = Lijkl .
The components of a tensor dyad can be computed without any difficulty:
A ⊗ B = (Aij ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (Bkl ek ⊗ el ) = Aij Bkl ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el
⇒ (A ⊗ B)ijkl = Aij Bkl
so that, in particular,
((a ⊗ b) ⊗ (c ⊗ d))ijkl = ai bj ck dl .
Concerning the identity of Lin(V),
Iijkl = (ei ⊗ el ) · I(ek ⊗ el ) = (ei ⊗ ej ) · (ek ⊗ el ) = ei · ek ej · el
= δik δjl ⇒ I = δik δjl (ei ⊗ el ⊗ ek ⊗ el ).
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 59

The components of A ∈ Lin(V), resulting from the application of L ∈

Lin(V) on B ∈ Lin(V), can now be easily calculated:

A = LB = Lijkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )(Bpq ep ⊗ eq )

= Lijkl Bpq δkp δlq (ei ⊗ ej ) (3.2)
= Lijkl Bkl (ei ⊗ ej ) ⇒ Aij = Lijkl Bkl .

Moreover,

L(A ⊗ B)C = L((A ⊗ B)C) = L(B · CA) = B · C LA

= ((LA) ⊗ B)C ⇒ L(A ⊗ B) = (LA) ⊗ B.

Using this result and Eq. (3.1), we can determine the components of a
product of fourth-rank tensors:
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AB = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )Bpqrs (ep ⊗ eq ⊗ er ⊗ es )

= Aijkl Bpqrs (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )(ep ⊗ eq ) ⊗ (er ⊗ es )
= Aijkl Bpqrs [(ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )(ep ⊗ eq )] ⊗ (er ⊗ es ) (3.3)
= Aijkl Bpqrs [δkp δlq (ei ⊗ ej )] ⊗ (er ⊗ es )
= Aijkl Bklrs (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ er ⊗ es ) ⇒ (AB)ijrs = Aijkl Bklrs .

Depending upon four indices, a fourth-rank tensor L cannot be represented

by a matrix; however, we will see in Section 3.8 that a matrix representation
of a fourth-rank tensor is still possible and that it is currently used in some
cases, e.g. in elasticity.

3.3 Conjugation product, transpose, symmetries

For any two tensors A, B ∈ Lin(V), we call the conjugation product the
tensor A  B ∈ Lin(V) defined by the operation

(A  B)L := ALB ∀L ∈ Lin(V).

As a consequence, for the dyadic tensors of B 2 ,

(ei ⊗ ej )  (ek ⊗ el ) = ei ⊗ ek ⊗ ej ⊗ el (3.4)

so that

(A  B)ijkl = Aik Bjl .

 60 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Moreover, by the uniqueness of the identity I, ∀A ∈ Lin(V),

(I  I)A = IAI = A ⇒ I = I  I.
The transpose of a fourth-rank tensor L is the unique tensor L , such that
A · (LB) = B · (L A) ∀A, B ∈ Lin(V).
By this definition, setting A = ei ⊗ ej , B = ek ⊗ el gives
(L )ijkl = Lklij .
A consequence is that
A · (LB) = B · (L A) = A · (L ) B ⇒ (L ) = L.
Moreover,
M · (A ⊗ B) L = L · (A ⊗ B)M
= L · AM · B = M · (BA · L)
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= M · (B ⊗ A)L ⇒ (A ⊗ B) = B ⊗ A,
while, cf. Exercise 7, Chapter 2,
M · (A  B) L = L · (A  B)M
= L · AMB = A L · MB = M A L · B
= (M A L) · (B ) = L AM · B = AM · LB
= M · A LB = M · (A  B )L ⇒ (A  B)
= A  B .
The property
(AB) = B A
can be proved in the same manner as the analogous property of the second-
rank tensors.
A tensor L ∈ Lin(V) is symmetric ⇐⇒ L = L . It is then evident that
L = L ⇒ Lijkl = Lklij ,
which are relations called major symmetries. These symmetries number 36
on the whole so that a symmetric fourth-rank tensor has 45 independent
components. Moreover,
A  B = (A  B) = A  B ⇐⇒ A = A , B = B ,
A ⊗ B = (A ⊗ B) = B ⊗ A ⇐⇒ B = λA, λ ∈ R.
Let us now consider the case of a L ∈ Lin(V), such that
LA = (LA) ∀A ∈ Lin(V).
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 61

Then, by Eq. (3.2),

Lijkl = Ljikl ,

which are relations called left minor symmetries: A tensor L having the
left minor symmetries has values in Sym(V). On the whole, the left minor
symmetries number 27. Finally, consider the case of a L ∈ Lin(V), such
that

LA = L(A ) ∀A ∈ Lin(V);

then, again by Eq. (3.2), we get

Lijkl = Lijlk ,
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which are relations called minor right symmetries, whose total number
is also 27. It is immediate to recognize that if L has the minor right
symmetries, then

LW = O ∀W ∈ Skw(V).

We say that a tensor has minor symmetries if it has both the right and left
minor symmetries; the total number of minor symmetries is 45 because, as
can be easily checked, some of the left and right minor symmetries are the
same, so finally a tensor with the minor symmetries has 36 independent
components.
If L ∈ Lin(V) has major and minor symmetries, then the number of
independent symmetry relations is actually 60 (some minor and major
symmetries coincide), so in such a case, L depends upon 21 independent
components only. This is the case of the elasticity tensor.
Finally, the six Cauchy–Poisson symmetries1 are those of the type

Lijkl = Likjl .

A tensor having major, minor, and Cauchy–Poisson symmetries is com-

pletely symmetric, i.e. swapping any couple of indices gives an identical
component. In that case, the number of independent components is only 15.

1 The Cauchy–Poisson symmetries have played an important role in a celebrated diatribe

of the 19th century in elasticity, that between the so-called rari- and multi-constant
theories.
 62 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

3.4 Trace and scalar product of fourth-rank tensors

We can introduce the scalar product between fourth-rank tensors in the

same way we did for second-rank tensors. We first introduce the concept
of trace for fourth-rank tensors once again using the dyad (here, the tensor
dyad):
tr4 A ⊗ B := A · B.
The easy proof that tr4 : Lin(V) → R is a linear form is based upon the
properties of scalar product of second-rank tensors, and it is left to the
reader. An immediate result is that
tr4 A ⊗ B = Aij Bij .
Then, using the canonical decomposition, we have that
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tr4 L = tr4 (Lijkl (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el )) = Lijkl (ei ⊗ ej ) · (ek ⊗ el )

= Lijkl δik δjl = Lijij
and that
tr4 L = tr4 (Lklij (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el )) = Lklij (ei ⊗ ej ) · (ek ⊗ el )
= Lklij δik δjl = Lijij = tr4 L.
Then, we define the scalar product of fourth-rank tensors as
A · B := tr4 (A B).
By the properties of tr4 , the scalar product is a positive definite symmetric
bilinear form:
αA · βB = tr4 (αA βB) = αβtr4 (A B) = αβA · B,
A · B = tr4 (A B) = tr4 (A B) = tr4 (B A) = B · A,
A · A = tr4 (A A) = (A A)ijij = Aklij Aklij > 0 ∀A ∈ Lin(V),
A · A = 0 ⇐⇒ A = O.
By components,
A · B = tr4 ((Aklij ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )(Bpqrs ep ⊗ eq ⊗ er ⊗ es ))
= tr4 (Aklij Bpqrs δkp δlq (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (er ⊗ es ))
= Aklij Bpqrs δkp δlq (ei ⊗ ej ) · (er ⊗ es )
= Aklij Bpqrs δkp δlq δir δjs = Aklij Bklij .
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 63

The rule for computing the scalar product is hence always the same as was
already seen for vectors and second-rank tensors: All the indexes are to be
saturated.
In complete analogy with vectors and second-rank tensors, we say that
A is orthogonal to B ⇐⇒

A · B = 0,

and we define the norm of L as

√  
|L| := L · L = tr4 L L = Lijkl Lijkl .

3.5 Projectors and identities

For the spherical part of any A ∈ Sym(V), we can write

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1 1 1
Asph := trA I = I · A I = (I ⊗ I)A = Ssph A,
3 3 3
where
1
Ssph := I⊗I
3
is the spherical projector, i.e. the fourth-rank tensor that extracts from any
A ∈ Lin(V) its spherical part. Moreover,

Adev := A − Asph = IA − Ssph A = Ddev A,

where

Ddev := I − Ssph

is the deviatoric projector, i.e. the fourth-rank tensor that extracts from
any A ∈ Lin(V) its deviatoric part. It is worth noting that

I = Ssph + Ddev .

Moreover, about the components of Ssph ,

sph 1 1
Sijkl = (ei ⊗ ej ) · (I ⊗ I)(ek ⊗ el ) = I · (ei ⊗ ej ) I · (ek ⊗ el )
3 3
1 1
= tr(ei ⊗ ej )tr(ek ⊗ el ) = δij δkl → Ssph
3 3
1
= δij δkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ).
3
 64 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

We remark that
Ssph = (Ssph ) .
We introduce now the tensor Is , restriction of I to A ∈ Sym(V). It can be
introduced as follows: ∀A ∈ Sym(V),
1
A= (A + A )
2
and
1 1
A = IA = (IA + IA ) = (Iijkl Akl + Iijkl Alk )(ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el );
2 2
because A = A , there is insensitivity to the swap of indexes k and l, so
1
A= (Iijkl Akl + Iijlk Alk )(ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el )
2
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1
= (δik δjl + δil δjk )Akl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ).
2
Then, if we admit the interchangeability of indexes k and l, i.e. if we
postulate the existence of the minor right symmetries for I, then I = Is ,
with
1
Is = (δik δjl + δil δjk )(ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ).
2
It is apparent that
Iijkl
s
= Iklij
s
,
i.e. Is = (Is ) but also that
1
Iijkl
s
= (δil δjk + δik δjl ) = Ijikl
s
,
2
i.e. Is has also the minor left symmetries; in other words, Is has the major
and minor symmetries, like an elasticity tensor, while this is not the case
for I. In fact,
Iijkl = Ijilk = δik δjl = δil δjk = Ijikl = Iijlk .
Because Ssph and Ddev operate on Sym(V), it is immediate to recognize
that it is also
Ddev = Is − Ssph ⇒ Is = Ssph + Ddev .
It is worth noting that
(Ddev ) = (Is − Ssph ) = (Is ) − (Ssph ) = Is − Ssph = Ddev .
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 65

We can now determine the components of Ddev :

sph 1 1
Dijkl
dev
= Iijkl
s
− Sijkl = (δik δjl + δil δjk ) − δij δkl →
 2  3
1 1
Ddev = (δik δjl + δil δjk ) − δij δkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ).
2 3

We remark that the result (2.9) implies that Ssph and Ddev are orthogonal
projectors, i.e. they project the same A ∈ Sym(V) into two orthogonal
subspaces of V, Sph(V) and Dev(V).
The tensor Ttrp ∈ Lin(V) defined by the operation

Ttrp A = A ∀A ∈ Lin(V)

is the transposition projector whose components are

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trp
Tijkl = (ei ⊗ ej ) · Ttrp (ek ⊗ el ) = (ei ⊗ ej ) · (el ⊗ ek ) = δil δjk .

The following operation defines the symmetry projector Ssym ∈ Lin(V):

1
Ssym A = (A + A ) ∀A ∈ Lin(V),
2

while the antisymmetry projector Wskw ∈ Lin(V) is defined by

1
Wskw A = (A − A ) ∀A ∈ Lin(V).
2

Also, Ssym and Wskw are orthogonal projectors because they project the
same A ∈ Lin(V) into two orthogonal subspaces of Lin(V): Sym(V) and
Skw(V), see Exercise 10, Chapter 2.
We prove now two properties of the projectors: ∀A ∈ Lin(V),

1 1
(Ssym + Wskw )A = (A + A ) + (A − A ) = A
2 2
= IA ⇒ Ssym + Wskw = I. (3.5)

Then,

1 1
(Ssym − Wskw )A = (A + A ) − (A − A ) = A
2 2
= Ttrp A ⇒ Ssym − Wskw = Ttrp . (3.6)
 66 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

3.6 Orthogonal conjugator

For any U ∈ Orth(V), we define its orthogonal conjugator U ∈ Lin(V) as

U := U  U.
Theorem 22 (Orthogonality of U). The orthogonal conjugator is an
orthogonal tensor of Lin(V), i.e. it preserves the scalar product between
tensors:
UA · UB = A · B ∀A, B ∈ Lin(V).

Proof. By the assertion in Exercise 12 of Chapter 2 and because U ∈

Orth(V), we have
UA · UB = (U  U)A · (U  U)B = UAU · UBU
= U UAU · BU = AU · BU = AU U · B = A · B. 
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Just as for tensors of Orth(V), we also have

UU = U U = I.
In fact, see the assertion in Exercise 4:
UU = (U  U)(U  U ) = UU  UU = I  I = I. (3.7)
The orthogonal conjugators also have some properties in relation with
projectors.

Theorem 23. Ssph is unaffected by any orthogonal conjugator, while Ddev

commutes with any orthogonal conjugator.

Proof. For any L ∈ Sym(V) and U ∈ Orth(V),

 
1 1 1
USsph L = (U  U) I ⊗ I L = (trL)(U  U)I = (trL)UIU
3 3 3
1 1 1
= (trL)I = I · L I = (I ⊗ I)L = Ssph L.
3 3 3
Moreover,
 
1 1 1
Ssph UL = I ⊗ I (U  U)L = (I ⊗ I)(ULU ) = (I · ULU )I
3 3 3
1 1 1 1
= tr(ULU )I = tr(U UL)I = (trL)I = I · LI
3 3 3 3
1
= (I ⊗ I)L = Ssph L.
3
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 67

Thus, we have proved that

Ssph U = USsph = Ssph ,

i.e. that the spherical projector Ssph is unaffected by any orthogonal

conjugator. Furthermore,

Ddev UL = (Is − Ssph )UL = Is UL − Ssph UL = UL − Ssph L = (U − Ssph )L

and

UDdev L = U(Is − Ssph )L = UIs L − USsph L = UL − Ssph L = (U − Ssph )L

so that

Ddev U = UDdev .

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3.7 Rotations and symmetries

We ponder now how to rotate a fourth-rank tensor, i.e. what are the
components of

L = Lijkl ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el

in a basis B  = {e1 , e2 , e3 } obtained by rotating the basis B = {e1 , e2 , e3 }

by the rotation R = Rij ei ⊗ ej , R ∈ Orth(V)+ . The procedure is exactly
the same as already seen for vectors and second-rank tensors:
       
L = Lijkl ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el = Lijkl Rpi ep ⊗ Rqj eq ⊗ Rrk er ⊗ Rsl es
   
= Rpi Rqj Rrk Rsl Lijkl ep ⊗ eq ⊗ er ⊗ es ,
i.e.

Lpqrs = Rpi
   
Rqj Rrk Rsl Lijkl .

We see clearly that the components of L in the basis B  are a linear

combination of those in B, the coefficients of the linear combination
being fourth powers of the director cosines, Rij s. The introduction of the
orthogonal conjugator2 of the rotation R,

R = R  R,

2 Here,
the symbol R indicates the orthogonal conjugator of R and not the set of real
numbers.
 68 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

allows us to give a compact expression for the rotation of second- and

fourth-rank tensors (for completeness, we also recall that of a vector w):
w = R w,
L = R LR = (R  R )L = R L,
L = (R  R )L(R  R) = R LR.
Checking the above relations with the orthogonal conjugator R is left to
the reader. It is worth noting that, actually, these transformations are valid
not only for R ∈ Orth(V)+ but more generally for any U ∈ Orth(V), i.e.
also for symmetries.
If by U, we denote the tensor of the change of basis under any orthogonal
transformation, i.e. if we put U = R for the rotations, then the above
relations become
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w = Uw,
L = ULU = (U  U)L = UL, (3.8)
L = (U  U)L(U  U) = ULU .
Finally, we say that L ∈ Lin(V) or L ∈ Lin(V) is invariant under an
orthogonal transformation U if
ULU = L, ULU = L;
right multiplying both terms by U or by U and through Eq. (3.7), we get
that L or L are invariant under U ⇐⇒
UL = LU, UL = LU,
i.e. ⇐⇒ L and U or L and U commute. This relation allows, for example,
the analysis of material symmetries in anisotropic elasticity.
If a tensor is invariant under any orthogonal transformation, i.e. if the
previous equations hold true ∀U ∈ Orth(V), then the tensor is said to be
isotropic. A general result3 is that a fourth-rank tensor L is isotropic ⇐⇒
there exist two scalar functions λ, μ such that
LA = 2μA + λtrA I ∀A ∈ Sym(V).
The reader is referred to the book by Gurtin (see references) for the proof
of this result and for a deeper insight into isotropic functions.

3 Actually,this is quite a famous result in classical elasticity, the Lamé’s equation, defining
an isotropic elastic material.
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 69

3.8 The Kelvin formalism

As already mentioned, though fourth-rank tensors cannot be organized in

and represented by a matrix, nevertheless a matrix formalism for these
operators exists. Such a formalism is due to Kelvin4 , and it is strictly related
to the theory of elasticity, i.e. it concerns Cauchy’s stress tensor σ, the strain
tensor ε, and the elasticity tensor E. The relation between σ and ε is given
by the celebrated (generalized) Hooke’s law:

σ = Eε.

Both σ, ε ∈ Sym(V) while E = E , and it also has the minor symmetries,

so E has only 21 independent components.5 In the Kelvin formalism, the
six independent components of σ and ε are organized into column vectors
and renumbered as follows:
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⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎪ σ1 = σ11 ⎪ ⎪ ε1 = ε11 ⎪
⎪ σ2 = σ22 ⎪ ⎪ ε2 = ε22 ⎪
⎨ ⎬ ⎨ ⎬
σ3 =√σ33 ε3 =√ε33
{σ} = , {ε} = .
⎪ σ4 = √2σ23 ⎪ ⎪ ε4 = √2ε23 ⎪
⎪ σ5 = 2σ31 ⎪ ⎪ ε5 = 2ε31 ⎪
⎩ √ ⎭ ⎩ √ ⎭
σ6 = 2σ12 ε6 = 2ε12

The elasticity tensor E is reduced to a 6 × 6 matrix [E] as a consequence

of the minor symmetries induced by the symmetry of σ and ε; this matrix
is symmetric because E = E :
⎡ ⎤
√ √ √
⎢ E11 = E1111 E12 = E1122 E13 = E1133 E14 = 2E1123 E15 = 2E1131 E16 = 2E1112 ⎥
⎢ √ √ √ ⎥
⎢ E 12 = E 1122 E 22 = E 2222 E23 = E2233 E24 = 2E2223 E25 = 2E2231 E26 = 2E2212 ⎥
⎢ √ √ √ ⎥
⎢ E 13 = E 1133 E 23 = E 2233 E33 = E3333 E34 = 2E3323 E35 = 2E3331 E36 = 2E3312 ⎥
[E] = .
⎢ √ √ √ ⎥
E
⎢ 14 = 2E E
1123 24 = 2E 2223 34 =
E 2E3323 E44 = 2E2323 E45 = 2E2331 E46 = 2E2312 ⎥
⎢ √ √ √ ⎥
E
⎢ 15 = 2E E
1131 25 = 2E E
2231 35 = 2E3331 E45 = 2E2331 E55 = 2E3131 E56 = 2E3112 ⎥
⎣ ⎦
√ √ √
E16 = 2E1112 E26 = 2E2212 E36 = 2E3312 E46 = 2E2312 E56 = 2E3112 E66 = 2E1212

In this way, the matrix product

{σ} = [E]{ε} (3.9)

4 W. Thomson (Lord Kelvin): Elements of a Mathematical Theory of Elasticity. Philos.

Trans. R. Soc., 146, 481–498, 1856. Later, Voigt (W. Voigt: Lehrbuch der Kristallphysik.
B. G. Taubner, Leipzig, 1910) gave another, similar matrix formalism for tensors, more
widely known than the Kelvin one but less effective.
5 Actually, the Kelvin formalism can also be extended without major difficulties to tensors

that do not possess all the symmetries.

 70 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

is equivalent to the tensor form of the Hooke’s law, and all the operations
can be done by the aid of classical matrix algebra,6 e.g. the computation
of the inverse of E, the compliance tensor.
An important operation is the expression of tensor U in Eq. (3.8) in
the Kelvin formalism; some tedious but straightforward operations give the
result:
⎡ √ √ √ ⎤
2 2 2
U11 U12 U13 2U12 U13 2U13 U11 2U11 U12
⎢ ⎥
⎢ 2 2 2 √ √ √ ⎥
U21 U22 U23 2U22 U23 2U23 U21 2U21 U22
⎢ ⎥
⎢ 2 2 2 √ √ √ ⎥
U31 U32 U33 2U32 U33 2U33 U31 2U31 U32
[U ] = ⎢ √ √ √
⎥.
⎢ 2U U 2U22 U32 2U23 U33 U23 U32 + U22 U33 U33 U21 + U31 U23 U31 U22 + U32 U21 ⎥
21 31
⎢ ⎥
√ √ √
⎢ 2U U 2U32 U12 2U33 U13 U32 U13 + U33 U12 U31 U13 + U33 U11 U31 U12 + U32 U11 ⎥
31 11
⎣ ⎦
√ √ √
2U11 U21 2U12 U22 2U13 U23 U12 U23 + U13 U22 U11 U23 + U13 U21 U11 U22 + U12 U21

With some work, it can be checked that

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[U ][U ] = [U ] [U ] = [I],
i.e. that [U ] is an orthogonal matrix in R6 . Of course,
[R] = [U ]
is the matrix that in the Kelvin formalism represents the tensor R = U .
The change of basis for σ and ε are hence done through the relations
{σ  } = [U ]{σ}, {ε } = [U ]{ε},
which when applied to Eq. (3.9) give
{σ} = [E]{ε} → [U ] {σ  } = [E][U ] {ε } → {σ  } = [U ][E][U ] {ε },
i.e. in the basis B  ,
{σ  } = [E  ]{ε },
where
[E  ] = [U ][E][U ] = [R] [E][R]
is the matrix representing E in B  in the Kelvin formalism. Though it is
possible to give the expression of the components of [E  ], they are so long
that they are omitted here.

6 Mehrabadi and Cowin have shown that the Kelvin formalism transforms second- and
fourth-rank tensors on R3 into vectors and second-rank tensors on R6 (M. M. Mehrabadi
and S. C. Cowin: Eigentensors of linear anisotropic elastic materials. Q. J. Mech. Appl.
Math., 43, 15–41, 1990).
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 71

3.9 The polar formalism for plane tensors

The Cartesian representation of tensors makes use of quantities that are

basis-dependent, and the change of basis implies algebraic transformations
rather complicate. The question of representing tensors using other quan-
tities than Cartesian components is hence of importance. In particular, it
should be interesting to represent a tensor making use of only invariants
of the tensor itself and of angles, which is the simplest geometrical way to
determine a direction.
In the case of plane tensors, this has been done by Verchery7 who
introduced the so-called polar formalism. This is basically a mathematical
technique to find the invariants of a tensor of any rank. Here, we give just a
short insight into the polar formalism of fourth-rank tensors, omitting the
proof of the results.8
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The Cartesian components of a plane fourth-rank tensor T in a frame

rotated through an angle θ can be expressed as

T1111 = T0 + 2T1 + R0 cos 4(Φ0 − θ) + 4R1 cos 2(Φ1 − θ),

T1112 = R0 sin 4(Φ0 − θ) + 2R1 sin 2(Φ1 − θ),
T1122 = −T0 + 2T1 − R0 cos 4(Φ0 − θ),
T1212 = T0 − R0 cos 4(Φ0 − θ),
T1222 = −R0 sin 4(Φ0 − θ) + 2R1 sin 2(Φ1 − θ),
T2222 = T0 + 2T1 + R0 cos 4(Φ0 − θ) − 4R1 cos 2(Φ1 − θ).

In the above equations, T0 , T1 , R0 , and R1 are tensor invariants, with

all of them nonnegative, while Φ0 and Φ1 are angles whose difference,
Φ0 − Φ1 , is also a tensor invariant, so fixing one of the two polar angles
corresponds to fixing a frame. In particular, the tensor invariants have a
direct physical meaning (e.g. for the elasticity tensor, they are linked to
material symmetries and strain energy decomposition). We remark also
that the change of frame is extremely simple in the polar formalism: It is
sufficient to subtract the angle θ formed by the new frame from the two
polar angles.

7 G.Verchery: Les invariants des tenseurs d’ordre 4 du type de l’élasticité, Proc. Colloque
EUROMECH 115, 1979.
8 A detailed presentation of the method can be found in the work by Vannucci:

Anisotropic Elasticity, Springer, 2018.

 72 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

The Cartesian expression of the polar invariants can be found by

inverting the previous expressions:
1
T0 = (T1111 − 2T1122 + 4T1212 + T2222 ),
8
1
T1 = (T1111 + 2T1122 + T2222 ),
8
1
R0 = (T1111 − 2T1122 − 4T1212 + T2222 )2 + 16(T1112 − T1222 )2 ,
8
1
R1 = (T1111 − T2222 )2 + 4(T1112 + T1222 )2 ,
8
4(T1112 − T1222 )
tan 4Φ0 = ,
T1111 − 2T1122 − 4T1212 + T2222
2(T1112 + T1222 )
tan 2Φ1 = .
T1111 − T2222
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3.10 Exercises

1. Prove Eq. (3.4).

2. Prove that
(AB) = B A .
3. Prove that
A ⊗ BL = A ⊗ L B.
4. Prove that
(A  B)(C  D) = AC  BD.
5. Prove Eq. (3.3) using the result of the previous exercise.
6. Prove that
(A ⊗ B)(C  D) = A ⊗ ((C  D )B).
7. Prove that
(A  B)(C ⊗ D) = ((A  B)C) ⊗ D.
8. Let p ∈ S and P = p ⊗ p, then prove that
P  P = P ⊗ P.
9. Prove that, ∀A ∈ Lin(V),
IA = AI = A.
 Fourth-Rank Tensors 73

10. Show that

(A ⊗ B) · (C ⊗ D) = A · C B · D.
11. Show that
I I
Ssph = ⊗ .
|I| |I|
12. Show that
dim(Sph(V)) = 1, dim(Dev(V)) = 5.
13. Show the following properties of Ssph and Ddev :
Ssph Ssph = Ssph ,
Ddev Ddev = Ddev ,
Ssph Ddev = Ddev Ssph = O.
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14. Prove the results in Eqs. (3.5) and (3.6) using the components.
15. Show that
Ssph · Ssph = 1,
Ddev · Ddev = 5,
Ssph · Ddev = 0.
16. Make explicit the orthogonal conjugator SR of the tensor SR in Eq.
(2.49).
17. Using the polar formalism, it can be proved that the material symmetry
conditions in plane elasticity are all condensed into the equation
R0 R1 sin 4(Φ0 − Φ1 ) = 0;
determine the different types of possible elastic symmetries.
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 Chapter 4

Tensor Analysis: Curves

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4.1 Curves of points, vectors and tensors

The scalar products in V, Lin(V), and Lin(V) allow us to define a norm,

the Euclidean norm, so they automatically endow these spaces with a
metric, i.e. we are able to measure and calculate a distance between two
elements of such a space and in E. This allows us to generalize the concepts
of continuity and differentiability already known in R, whose definition
intrinsically makes use of a distance between real quantities.
Let πn = {pn ∈ E, n ∈ N} be a sequence of points in E. We say that πn
converges to p ∈ E if
lim d(pn − p) = 0.
n→∞

A similar definition can be given for sequences of vectors or tensors of any

rank. Through this definition of convergence, we can now make the concepts
of continuity and curve precise.
Let [a, b] be an interval of R; the function
p = p(t) : [a, b] → E
is continuous at t ∈ [a, b] if for each sequence {tn ∈ [a, b], n ∈ N}
that converges to t, the sequence πn defined by pn = p(tn ) ∀n ∈ N
converges to p(t) ∈ E. The function p = p(t) is a curve in E ⇐⇒ it is
continuous ∀t ∈ [a, b]. In the same way, we can define a curve of vectors and

75
 76 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

tensors:
v = v(t) : [a, b] → V,
L = L(t) : [a, b] → Lin(V),
L = L(t) : [a, b] → Lin(V).
Mathematically, a curve is a function that lets correspond to a real value t
(the parameter) in a given interval, an element of a space: E, V, Lin(V),
or L(V).

4.2 Differentiation of curves

Let v = v(t) : [a, b] → V be a curve of vectors and g = g(t) : [a, b] → R a

scalar function. We say that v is of the order o with respect to g in t0 ⇐⇒
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|v(t)|
lim = 0,
t→t0 |g(t)|
and we write
v(t) = o(g(t)) for t → t0 .
A similar definition can be given for a curve of tensors of any rank. We then
say that the curve v is differentiable in t0 ∈]a, b[ ⇐⇒ ∃v ∈ V such that
v(t) − v(t0 ) = (t − t0 )v (t0 ) + o(t − t0 ).
We call v (t0 ) the derivative1 of v at t0 . Applying the definition of
derivative to v , we define the second derivative v of v and recursively
all the derivatives of higher orders. We say that v is of class Cn if it is
continuous with its derivatives up to the order n; if n ≥ 1, v is said to be
smooth. A curve v(t) of class Cn is said to be regular if v = o ∀t. Similar
definitions can be given for curves in E, Lin(V), and Lin(V), thus defining
derivatives of points and tensors. We remark that the derivative of a curve
in E, defined as a difference of points, is a curve in V (we say, in short,
that the derivative of a point is a vector). For what concerns tensors, the
derivative of a tensor of rank r is a tensor of the same rank.
Let u, v be curves in V, L, M curves in Lin(V), L, M curves in Lin(V),
and α a scalar function, with all of them defined and at least of class C1

1 The dv
derivative is also written as , v,t or also as v̇, with the last symbol being
dt
usually reserved, in physics, to the case where t is time. For the sake of brevity, we omit
to indicate the derivative of v at t0 as v (t0 ), writing simply v .
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 77

on [a, b]. The same definition of the derivative of a curve gives the following
results, whose proof is left to the reader:

(u + v) = u + v ,
(αv) = α v + αv ,
(u · v) = u · v + u · v ,
(u × v) = u × v + u × v ,
(u ⊗ v) = u ⊗ v + u ⊗ v ,
(L + M) = L + M ,
(αL) = α L + αL ,
(Lv) = L v + Lv ,
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(LM) = L M + LM ,
(L · M) = L · M + L · M ,
(L ⊗ M) = L ⊗ M + L ⊗ M ,
(L  M) = L  M + L  M ,
(L + M) = L + M ,
(αL) = α L + αL ,
(LL) = L L + LL ,
(LM) = L M + LM ,
(L · M) = L · M + L · M .

We remark that the derivative of any kind of product is made according to

the usual rule of the derivative of a product of functions.
Let R = {o; B} be a reference frame of the euclidean space E, composed
of an origin o and a basis B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } of V, ei ·ej = δij ∀i, j = 1, 2, 3, and
let us consider a point p(t) = (p1 (t), p2 (t), p3 (t)). If the three coordinates
pi (t) are three continuous functions over the interval [t1 , t2 ] ∈ R, then, by
the definition given above, the mapping p(t) : [t1 , t2 ] → E is a curve in E
and the equation
⎧
⎨ p1 = p1 (t)
p(t) = (p1 (t), p2 (t), p3 (t)) → p = p2 (t)
⎩ 2
p3 = p3 (t)
 78 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 4.1: Mapping of a curve of points.

is the parametric point equation of the curve: To each value of t ∈ [t1 , t2 ],

it corresponds to a point of the curve in E, see Fig. 4.1.
The vector function r(t) = p(t) − o is the position vector of point p in
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R; the equation
⎧
⎨ r1 = r1 (t)
r(t) = ri (t)ei = r1 (t)e1 + r2 (t)e2 + r3 (t)e3 → r = r2 (t)
⎩ 2
r3 = r3 (t)

is the parametric vector equation of the curve: To each value of t ∈ [t1 , t2 ],

there corresponds a vector of V that determines a point of the curve in E
through the operation p(t) = o + r(t).
Similarly, if the components Lij (t) are continuous functions of a
parameter t, the mapping L(t) : [t1 , t2 ] → Lin(V) defined by

L(t) = Lij (t)ei ⊗ ej , i, j = 1, 2, 3,

is a curve of tensors. In a similar way, we can give a curve of fourth-rank

tensors L(t) : [t1 , t2 ] → Lin(V) by

L(t) = Lijkl (t)ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el , i, j, k, l = 1, 2, 3.

It is noted that the choice of the parameter is not unique: The equation
p = p[τ (t)] still represents the same curve p = p(t) through the change of
parameter τ = τ (t).
The definition given above for the derivative of a curve of points p = p(t)
in t = t0 is equivalent to the following one2 (probably more familiar to the

2 This is also true for the derivatives of vector or tensor curves.

 Tensor Analysis: Curves 79

Figure 4.2: Derivative of a curve.

reader):
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dp(t) p(t0 + ε) − p(t0 )

= lim ,
dt ε→0 ε
dp(t)
represented in Fig. 4.2, where it is apparent that r (t) = is a vector.
dt
An important case is that of a vector v(t) whose norm v(t) is constant
∀t:

(v 2 ) = (v · v) = v · v + v · v = 2v · v = 0. (4.1)

The derivative of such a vector is orthogonal to it ∀t. The contrary is also

true, as is immediately apparent.
Finally, using the above rules and assuming that the reference frame R
is independent of t, we get easily that

p (t) = pi (t) ei ,

v (t) = vi (t) ei ,
(4.2)
L (t) = Lij (t) ei ⊗ ej ,
L (t) = Lijkl (t) ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ,

i.e. the derivative of a curve of points, vectors, or tensors is simply calculated

by differentiating the coordinates of the components. Using this result, it
is immediate to prove that

(L ) = L ,
(L ) = L ,
 80 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

while for any invertible tensor L, we have (we state the following results
without proof3 )
(L−1 ) = −L−1 L L−1 ,

(det L) = det L tr(L L−1 ) = det L L · L−1 = det L L · L− .
Let Q(t) : R → Orth(V) be a differentiable function. We call spin tensor
the tensor S(t) defined as
S(t) := Q (t)Q (t).
Then, we have the following.4
Theorem 24 (Characterization of the spin tensor). S(t) ∈
Skw(V) ∀t ∈ R.

Proof. As Q(t) ∈ OrthV ∀t, then

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QQ = I ⇒ (QQ ) = Q Q + QQ = I = O ⇒ QQ = −Q Q ,
so

S = (Q Q ) = QQ = −Q Q = −S.


4.3 Integral of a curve of vectors and length of a curve

We define the integral of a curve of vectors r(t) between a and b ∈ [t1 , t2 ]

the curve that is obtained by integrating each component of the curve:
 b  b
r(t) dt = ri (t) dt ei .
a a

If the curve is regular, we can generalize the second fundamental theorem

of the integral calculus:
 t
r(t) = r(a) + r (t∗ ) dt∗ .
a

Because
r(t) = p(t) − o, r (t) = (p(t) − o) = p (t),

3 The interested reader can find these proofs in the text by Gurtin, see the suggested
texts.
4 The spin tensor and the following result are of importance in kinematics: If t is time

and Q(t) ∈ OrthV + , then the axial vector of S(t) is ω(t), the angular velocity.
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 81

Figure 4.3: Integral of a vector curve.

we also get
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 t
p(t) = p(a) + p (t∗ ) dt∗ .
a

The integral of a vector function is the generalization of the vector sum,

see Fig. 4.3.
Let r(t) : [a, b] → E be a regular curve, σ a partition of [a, b] of the type
a = t0 < t1 < · · · < tn = b, and

σmax = max |ti − ti−1 |.

i=1,...,n

The length σ of the polygonal line whose vertices are the points r(ti ) is
hence

n
σ = |r(ti ) − r(ti−1 )|.
i=1

We define the length of the curve r(t) the (positive) number

 := sup σ .
σ

Theorem 25. Let r(t) : [a, b] ⇒ E be a regular curve, then

 b
= |r (t)|dt.
a
 82 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof. By the fundamental theorem of calculus,

 ti
r(ti ) − r(ti−1 ) = r (t)dt
ti−1

so that, using Minkowski’s inequality,

  
t ti
 i  
|r(ti ) − r(ti−1 )| = r (t)dt ≤ |r (t)|dt,
 ti−1  ti−1

whence
 b
≤ |r (t)|dt. (4.3)
a

Because r (t) is continuous on [a, b], ∀ε > 0 ∃δ > 0 such that |t − t| < δ ⇒
|r (t) − r (t)| < ε. Let t ∈ [ti−1 , ti ] and σmax < δ, which is always possible
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by the choice of the partition σ; again by Minkowski’s inequality,

|r (t)| ≤ |r (t) − r (ti )| + |r (ti )| < ε + |r (ti )|,

whence
 ti   
ti t
 i  
|r (t)|dt < 
|r (ti )|dt + ε(ti − ti−1 ) = r (ti )dt + ε(ti − ti−1 )
ti−1 ti−1  ti−1 
   
t t
 i    i  
≤ r (t)dt + (r (ti ) − r (t))dt + ε(ti − ti−1 )
 ti−1   ti−1 
≤ |r(ti ) − r(ti−1 )| + 2ε(ti − ti−1 ).
Summing up over all the intervals [ti−1 , ti ], we get
 b
|r (t)|dt ≤ σ + 2ε(b − a) ≤  + 2ε(b − a),
a

and because ε is arbitrary,

 b
|r (t)|dt ≤ ,
a

which by Eq. (4.3) implies the thesis. 

Let t = f (τ ) : [c, d] → [a, b] be a bijective function that operates the change

of parameter from t to τ . If rt (t) : [a, b] → V is a parametric equation of
a curve and rτ : [c, d] → V is a re-parameterization of the same curve, we
then have the following.
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 83

Theorem 26. The length of a curve does not depend upon its
parameterization.

Proof. Let rt (t) : [a, b] → E be a regular curve and t = f (τ ) : [c, d] → [a, b]

be a change of parameter, then dt = f  (τ )dτ and
 b  d  d
= |rt (t)|dt = |rt (f (τ ))f  (τ )|dτ = |rτ (τ )|dτ.
a c c 
A simple way to determine a point p(t) on a curve is to fix a point p0
on the curve and to measure the length s(t) of the arc of curve between
p0 = p(t = 0) and p(t). This length s(t) is called curvilinear abscissa5 :
 t  t
s(t) = |r (t∗ )|dt∗ = |(p(t∗ ) − o) |dt∗ . (4.4)
0 0
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From Eq. (4.4), we get

ds
= |r (t)| > 0
dt
so that s(t) is an increasing function of t, and the length of an infinitesimal
arc is

ds = dr12 + dr22 + dr32 .

For a plane curve y = f (x), we can always put t = x, which gives the
parametric equation

p(t) = (t, f (t)),

or in vector form,

r(t) = t e1 + f (t) e2 ,

from which we obtain

ds
= |r (t)| = |p (t)| = 1 + f 2 (t), (4.5)
dt
which gives the length of a plane curve between t = x0 and t = x as a
function of the abscissa x:
 x
s(x) = 1 + f 2 (t)dt.
x0

5 The curvilinear abscissa is also called arc length or natural parameter.

 84 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

4.4 The Frenet–Serret basis

We define the tangent vector τ (t) to a regular curve p = p(t) as the vector
p (t)
τ (t) := .
|p (t)|
By the definition of the derivative, this unit vector is always oriented as
the increasing values of t; hence, the straight line tangent to the curve in
p0 = p(t0 ) has the equation
q(t̄) = p(t0 ) + t̄ τ (t0 ).
If the curvilinear abscissa s is chosen as a parameter for the curve through
the change of parameter s = s(t), we get
p (t) p [s(t)] 1 dp(s) ds(t) dp(s)
τ (t) = = =  = → τ (s) = p (s).
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|p (t)| 
|p [s(t)]| s (t) ds dt ds
(4.6)
So, if the parameter of the curve is s, the derivative of the curve is τ , i.e.
it is automatically a unit vector. The above equation, in addition, shows
that the change of parameter does not change the direction of the tangent
because it is only a scalar, the derivative of the parameter’s change, that
multiplies the vector. Nevertheless, in general, a change of parameter can
change the orientation of the curve.
Because the norm of τ is constant, its derivative is a vector orthogonal
to τ , see Eq. (4.1). That is why we call principal normal vector to a curve
the unit vector
τ  (t)
ν(t) := . (4.7)
|τ  (t)|
ν is defined only on the points of the curve where τ  = o, which implies
that ν is not defined on the points of a straight line. This simply means
that there is not, among the infinite unit normal vectors to a straight line,
a normal with special properties, a principal one, uniquely linked to τ .
Unlike τ , whose orientation changes with the choice of the parameter, ν
is an intrinsic local characteristic of the curve: It is not affected by the choice
of the parameter. In fact, by the same definition, ν does not depend upon
the reference frame; then, because the direction of τ is also independent of
the parameter’s choice, the only factor that could affect ν is the orientation
of the curve, which depends upon the parameter. But a change in the
orientation affects, in (4.7), both τ and the sign of the increment dt so
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 85

that τ  (t) = dτ /dt does not change, nor does ν, which is hence an intrinsic
property of the curve.
The vector

β(t) := τ (t) × ν(t)

is called the binormal vector; by construction, it is orthogonal to τ and ν,

and it is a unit vector. In addition, it is evident that

τ × ν · β = 1,

so the set {τ , ν, β} forms a positively oriented orthonormal basis that can

be defined at any regular point of a curve with τ  = o. Such a basis is
called the Frenet–Serret local basis, local in the sense that it changes with
the position along the curve. The plane (τ , ν) is the osculating plane, the
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plane (ν, β) the normal plane, and the plane (β, τ ) the rectifying plane,
see Fig. 4.4. The osculating plane is particularly important: If we consider
a plane passing through three nonaligned points of the curve, when these
points become closer and closer, still remaining on the curve, the plane
tends to the osculating plane. The osculating plane at a point of a curve is
the plane that better approaches the curve near the point. A plane curve
is entirely contained in the osculating plane, which is fixed.
The principal normal ν is always oriented toward the part of the space
with respect to the rectifying plane where the curve is; in particular, for
a plane curve, ν is always directed toward the concavity of the curve. To
show that, it is sufficient to prove that the vector p(t + ε) − p(t) forms with

Figure 4.4: The Frenet–Serret basis.

 86 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

ν an angle ψ ≤ π/2, i.e. that (p(t + ε) − p(t)) · ν ≥ 0. In fact,

1
p(t + ε) − p(t) = ε p (t) + ε2 p (t) + o(ε2 )
2
1 2 
⇒ (p(t + ε) − p(t)) · ν = ε p (t) · ν + o(ε2 ),
2
but
p (t) · ν = (τ  |p | + τ |p | ) · ν = (|τ  ||p |ν + τ |p | ) · ν = |τ  ||p |
so that, to within infinitesimal quantities of order o(ε2 ), we obtain
1 2  
(p(t + ε) − p(t)) · ν = ε |τ ||p | ≥ 0.
2

4.5 Curvature of a curve

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It is important, in several situations, to evaluate how much a curve moves

away from a straight line in the neighborhood of a point. To do that, we
calculate the angle formed by the tangents at two close points, determined
by the curvilinear abscissa s and s + ε, and we measure the angle χ(s, ε)
that they form, see Fig. 4.5.
We then define the curvature of the curve in p = p(s) as the limit
 
χ(s, ε) 
c(s) = lim  .
ε→0 ε
The curvature is hence a nonnegative scalar that measures the rapidity of
variation in the direction of the curve per unit length of the curve (that
is why c(s) is defined as a function of the curvilinear abscissa); by the
same definition, the curvature is an intrinsic property of the curve, i.e.

Figure 4.5: Curvature of a curve.

 Tensor Analysis: Curves 87

independent of the parameter’s choice. For a straight line, the curvature is

identically null everywhere.
The curvature is linked to the second derivative of the curve; referring
to Fig. 4.5, it is
     
 χ(s, ε)   sin χ(s, ε)   2 χ(s, ε) 
c(s) = lim = lim = lim sin
ε→0 ε ε→0 ε ε→0 ε 2
   
v(s, ε) τ (s + ε) − τ (s)
= lim   = lim   = |τ  (s)| = |p (s)|.
ε→0 ε ε→0 ε

Another formula for the calculation of c(s) can be obtained if we consider

that
dτ [s(t)] dτ ds dτ  dτ 1 dτ
= = |p (t)| → = 
dt ds dt ds ds |p (t)| dt
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so that
 
1  dτ  |τ  (t)|
c(s) = |τ  (s)| = =  . (4.8)
|p (t)| dt |p (t)|

A better formula can be obtained using the complementary projector onto

τ , i.e. the tensor I − τ ⊗ τ , introduced in Exercise 2, Chapter 2:
p · p
p |p | − p
dτ 1 dτ 1 d p (t) 1 |p |
=  =  
= 
ds |p (t)| dt |p (t)| dt |p (t)| |p | |p |2
p − τ p · τ p
= = (I − τ ⊗ τ )  2 .
|p |2 |p |
Consequently,
 
dτ (s)  1
c(s) =  =  2 |(I − τ ⊗ τ )p |.
ds |p |

Now, we use Eq. (2.29) with w = τ ; denoting by Wτ the axial tensor of τ ,

then
1
Wτ Wτ = − |Wτ |2 (I − τ ⊗ τ ),
2
whence
W τ Wτ
I − τ ⊗ τ = −2 = −Wτ Wτ ,
|Wτ |2
 88 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

because if τ = (τ1 , τ2 , τ3 ), then

⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
0 −τ3 τ2 0 −τ3 τ2
|Wτ |2 = Wτ · Wτ = ⎣ τ3 0 −τ1 ⎦ · ⎣ τ3 0 −τ1 ⎦
−τ2 τ1 0 −τ2 τ1 0
= 2(τ12 + τ22 + τ32 ) = 2.
So, because Wτ ∈ Skw(V),
Wτ u = τ × u ∀u ∈ V.
Finally, using Eq. (2.33), the orthogonality property of cross product, Eq.
(2.31), and Eq. (2.35), we get
|(I − τ ⊗ τ )p | = | − Wτ Wτ p | = | − Wτ (τ × p )| = | − τ × (τ × p )|
|p × p |
= |τ × (τ × p )| = |τ × p | =
|p |
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so that, finally,
|p × p |
c= . (4.9)
|p |3
Applying this last formula to a plane curve p(t) = (x(t), y(t)), we get
|x y  − x y  |
c= 3 ,
(x2 + y 2 ) 2
and if the curve is given in the form y = y(x) so that the parameter t = x,
then we obtain
|y  |
c= 3 .
(1 + y 2 ) 2
This last formula shows that if |y  | 1, then
c |y  |.
This result is fundamental to the linearized (infinitesimal) theory of beams,
plates, and shells.

4.6 The Frenet–Serret formula

From Eq. (4.7) for t = s and Eq. (4.8), we get

dτ
= cν, (4.10)
ds
which is the first Frenet–Serret formula, giving the variation in τ per unit
length of the curve. Such a variation is a vector whose norm is the curvature
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 89

and that has as direction that of ν. We remark that, because t = s, by

Eq. (4.6), it is also that
p (s) = c(s)ν(s). (4.11)
Let us now consider the variation in β per unit length of the curve; because
β is a unit vector, we have
dβ
·β =0
ds
and
d(β · τ ) dβ dτ
β·τ =0 ⇒ = ·τ +β· = 0.
ds ds ds
Through Eq. (4.10) and because β · ν = 0, we get
dβ
· τ = −cβ · ν = 0
ds
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dβ
so that is necessarily parallel to ν. We then set
ds
dβ
= ϑν,
ds
which is the second Frenet–Serret formula. The scalar ϑ(s) is called the
torsion of the curve in p = p(s). So, we see that the variation in β per unit
length is a vector parallel to ν and proportional to the torsion of the curve.
We can now find the variation in ν per unit length of the curve:
dν d(β × τ ) dβ dτ
= = ×τ +β× = ϑ ν × τ + c β × ν,
ds ds ds ds
so finally
dν
= −c τ − ϑ β,
ds
which is the third Frenet–Serret formula: the variation in ν per unit length
of the curve is a vector of the rectifying plane.
The three formulae of Frenet–Serret (discovered independently by
J. F. Frenet in 1847 and by J. A. Serret in 1851) can be condensed into the
symbolic matrix product
⎧ ⎫ ⎡ ⎤⎧ ⎫
⎨τ ⎬ 0 c 0 ⎨τ ⎬
ν  = ⎣ −c 0 −ϑ ⎦ ν .
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
β 0 ϑ 0 β
The matrix in the equation above is called the matrix of Cartan, and it is
skew.
 90 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

4.7 The torsion of a curve

We have introduced the torsion of a curve in the previous section, with the
second formula of Frenet–Serret. The torsion measures the deviation of a
curve from flatness: If a curve is planar, it belongs to the osculating plane,
and β, which is perpendicular to the osculating pane, is hence a constant
vector. So, its derivative is null, and by the second Frenet–Serret formula,
ϑ = 0.
Conversely, if ϑ = 0 everywhere, β is a constant vector, and hence, the
osculating plane does not change and the curve is planar. So, we have that
a curve is planar if and only if the torsion is null ∀p(s).
Using the Frenet–Serret formulae in the expression of p (s), we get a
formula for the torsion:

dp ds
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p (t) = |p |τ = = s τ ⇒ |p | = s →

ds dt
dτ
p (t) = s τ + s τ  = s τ + s2 = s τ + c s2 ν →
ds
p (t) = s τ + s τ  + (c s2 ) ν + c s2 ν 
dτ dν
= s τ + s s + (c s2 ) ν + c s3
ds ds
= s τ + s s cν + (c s2 ) ν − c s3 (cτ + ϑβ)
= (s − c2 s3 )τ + (s s c + c s2 + 2c s s )ν − c s3 ϑβ,

whence, through Eq. (4.9),

p × p · p = s τ × (s τ + c s2 ν) · [(s − c2 s3 )τ

+ (s s c + c s2 + 2c s s )ν − c s3 ϑβ]
|p × p |2  6
= −c2 s6 ϑ = −c2 |p |6 ϑ = − |p | ϑ
|p |6

so that, finally,

p × p · p
ϑ=− .
|p × p |2

We remark that while the curvature is linked to the second derivative of

the curve, the torsion is also a function of the third derivative.
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 91

Figure 4.6: Torsion of a curve.

Unlike curvature, which is intrinsically positive, the torsion can be

negative. In fact, again using the Frenet–Serret formulae,
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1 1
p(s + ε) − p(s) = ε p + ε2 p + ε3 p + o(ε3 )
2 6
1 2 1 3
= ετ + ε cν + ε (cν) + o(ε3 )
2 6
1 2 1 3 
= ετ + ε cν + ε (c ν − c2 τ − c ϑβ) + o(ε3 )
2 6
1
⇒ (p(s + ε) − p(s)) · β = − ε3 c ϑ + o(ε3 ).
6
The above dot product determines if the point p(s + ε) is located, with
respect to the osculating plane, on the side of β or on the opposite one, see
Fig. 4.6: If following the curve for increasing values of s, ε > 0, the point
passes into the semi-space of β from the opposite one, because 1/6 c ε3 > 0,
it will be ϑ < 0, while in the opposite case, it will be ϑ > 0.
This result is intrinsic, i.e. it does not depend upon the choice of the
parameter, hence of the positive orientation of the curve; in fact, ν is
intrinsic, but changing the orientation of the curve, τ , and hence β, change
in orientation.

4.8 Osculating sphere and circle

The osculating sphere6 to a curve at a point p is a sphere to which the

curve tends to adhere to the neighborhood of p. Mathematically, if qs is the

6 The word osculating comes from the latin word osculo, which means to kiss; an
osculating sphere or circle or plane is a geometric object that is very close to the curve,
as close as two lovers are in a kiss.
 92 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

center of the sphere relative to the point p(s), then

|p(s + ε) − qs |2 = |p(s) − qs |2 + o(ε3 ).
Using this definition, discarding the terms of order o(ε3 ) and using the
Frenet–Serret formulae, we get
1 1
|p(s + ε) − qs |2 = |p(s) − qs + εp + ε2 p + ε3 p + o(ε3 )|2
2 6
1 1
= |p(s) − qs + ετ + ε2 c ν + ε3 (cν) + o(ε3 )|2
2 6
= |p(s) − qs |2 + 2ε(p(s) − qs ) · τ + ε2 + ε2 c(p(s) − qs ) · ν
1
+ ε3 (p(s) − qs ) · (c ν − c2 τ − c ϑβ) + o(ε3 ),
3
which gives
(p(s) − qs ) · τ = 0,
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1
(p(s) − qs ) · ν = − = −ρ,
c
c ρ
(p(s) − qs ) · β = − 2 = ,
c ϑ ϑ
and finally,
ρ
qs = p + ρ ν − β, (4.12)
ϑ
so the center of the sphere belongs to the normal plane; the sphere is not
defined for a plane curve. The quantity ρ is the radius of curvature of the
curve, which is defined as
1
ρ= .
c
The radius of the osculating sphere is

  2
ρ
ρs = |p − qs | = ρ2 + .
ϑ
The intersection between the osculating sphere and the osculating plane at
the same point p is the osculating circle. This circle has the property of
sharing the same tangent in p with the curve, and its radius is the radius of
curvature, ρ. From Eq. (4.12), we get the position of the osculating circle
center q:
q = p + ρ ν. (4.13)
An example can be seen in Fig. 4.7, where the osculating plane, circle, and
sphere are shown for a point p of a conical helix.
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 93

Figure 4.7: Osculating plane, circle, and sphere for a point p of a conical helix.
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The osculating circle is a diametral circle of the osculating sphere only

when q = qs , so if and only if

ρ c
= − 2 = 0,
ϑ c ϑ
i.e. when the curvature is constant.

4.9 Evolute, involute and envelopes of plane curves

For any plane curve γ(s), the center of the osculating circle q describes
a curve δ(σ) that is called the evolute of γ(s) (s and σ are curvilinear
abscissa). A point q of the evolute is then given by Eq. (4.13). We call
involute of a curve γ(s) a curve μ(σ) whose evolute is γ(s). We call the
envelope of a family of plane curves ϕ(s, κ), κ ∈ R being a parameter, a
curve that is tangent in each of its points to the curve of ϕ(s, κ) passing
through that point.
Let us consider the evolute δ(σ) of a curve γ(s); the tangent to δ(σ) is
the vector, cf. Eq. (4.13),

dq dq ds
τδ = = .
dσ ds dσ
But, cf. again Eq. (4.13) and the Frenet–Serret formulae,

dq dp dρ dν dρ dρ
= + ν +ρ =τ + ν −ρ c τ = ν,
ds ds ds ds ds ds
 94 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

so
dq dρ ds
τδ = = ν.
dσ ds dσ
Because
 
 dq  = |ν| = 1,
dσ
then
dρ ds dρ dσ
=1 ⇒ =
ds dσ ds ds
and

τδ = ν.

The evolute, δ(σ), of γ(s) is hence the envelope of its principal normals
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ν(s).
This result helps us in finding the equation of the involute μ(σ) of a
curve γ(s); let p = p(s) be a point of γ(s); then, if b ∈ μ(σ), it must be
that

(b − p) · ν = 0,

where ν is the principal normal to γ(s) in p because γ(s) is the evolute of

μ(σ), which implies, for the last result, that τ = νμ , with τ the tangent to
γ(s) in p and νμ the principal normal to μ(σ) in b, see Fig. 4.8.
Therefore,

b(s) − p(s) = f (s)τ (s) → b(s) = p(s) + f (s)τ (s),

with f = f (s) a scalar function of s; we remark that b = b(s), i.e. the arc
length s of γ(s) is the parameter also for μ(s), but in general, σ =s. Upon
differentiation, we get

b (s) = (1 + f  (s))τ (s) + f (s)c(s)ν(s).

Then, because b (s) = |b (s)|τμ is orthogonal to νμ = τ , it is parallel to ν,

so it must be that

1 + f  (s) = 0 ⇒ f (s) = a − s, a ∈ R.

Finally, the equation of the involute μ(s) to γ(s) is

b(s) = p(s) + (a − s)τ (s),

and we remark that the involute is not unique.

 Tensor Analysis: Curves 95
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Figure 4.8: Evolute, δ, and involutes for a = 0, denoted by μ, and a = 1, dashed, of a

catenary γ.

4.10 The theorem of Bonnet

The curvature, c(s), and the torsion, ϑ(s), are the only differential param-
eters that completely describe a curve. In other words, given two functions
c(s) and ϑ(s), then a curve exists with such a curvature and torsion (we
remark that there are no conditions bounding these parameters). This is
proved in the following.
Theorem 27 (Bonnet’s theorem). Given two scalar functions c(s) ∈C1
and ϑ(s) ∈C0 , there always exists a unique curve γ ∈C3 whose curvilinear
abscissa is s, curvature c(s), and torsion ϑ(s).

Proof. Let
⎛ ⎞
τ
e = ⎝ν ⎠
β
be the column vector whose elements are the vectors of the Frenet–Serret
basis. Then,
de(s)
= C(s)e(s), (4.14)
ds
 96 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

with
⎡ ⎤
0 c(s) 0
C(s) = ⎣ −c(s) 0 −ϑ(s) ⎦
0 ϑ(s) 0
the matrix of Cartan. Adding the initial condition
⎛ ⎞
e1
e(0) = ⎝ e2 ⎠,
e3
we have a Cauchy problem for the basis e(0). As known, such a problem
admits a unique solution, i.e. we can associate to c(s) and ϑ(s) a family of
bases e(s) (that are orthonormal because if one of them were not so, the
Cartan’s matrix should not be skew). Call τ (s) the first vector of the basis
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e(s) and define the function

 s
p(s) := p0 + τ (s∗ )ds∗ ;
0

p(s) is the curve we are looking for (it depends upon an arbitrary point
p0 , i.e. upon an inessential rigid displacement). In fact, because |τ | = 1, s
is the curvilinear abscissa of the curve. Then, it is sufficient to write the
Frenet–Serret equations identifying them with system (4.14). 

4.11 Canonic equations of a curve

We call the canonic equations of a curve at a point p0 the equations of the

curve referred to the Frenet–Serret basis in p0 . For this purpose, we expand
the curve in a Taylor series of initial point p0 :
1 1
p(s) = p0 + s p (0) + s2 p (0) + s3 p (0) + o(s3 ).
2 6
In the Frenet–Serret basis,

   dcν 
p (0) = τ (0), p (0) = c(0)ν(0), p (0) =
ds s=0
= c (0)ν(0) − c2 (0)τ (0) − c(0)ϑ(0)β(0),
so
1 1
p(s) = p0 + s τ (0) + s2 c(0)ν(0) + s3 (−c2 (0)τ (0) + c (0)ν(0)
2 6
−c(0)ϑ(0)β(0)) + o(s3 ).
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 97

The coordinates of a point p(s) close to p0 in the basis (τ (0), ν(0), β(0))
are hence
1
p1 (s) = s − c2 (0)s3 + o(s3 ),
6
1 1
p2 (s) = c(0)s2 + c (0)s3 + o(s3 ),
2 6
1
p3 (s) = − c(0)ϑ(0)s3 + o(s3 ).
6
The projections of the curve onto the planes of the Frenet–Serret basis hence
have, close to p0 (i.e. retaining the first non-null term in the expressions
above), the following equations:
• On the osculating plane,
⎧
⎨p1 (s) = s,
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⎩p2 (s) = 1 c(0)s2 ,

2
or, eliminating s,
1
p2 = c(0)p21 ,
2
which is the equation of a parabola.
• On the rectifying plane,
⎧
⎨p1 (s) = s,
⎩p3 (s) = − 1 c(0)ϑ(0)s3 ,
6
or, eliminating s,
1
p3 = − c(0)ϑ(0)p13 ,
6
which is the equation of a cubic parabola.
• On the normal plane,
⎧
⎪ 1
⎨p2 (s) = c(0)s2 ,
2
⎪
⎩p3 (s) = − 1 c(0)ϑ(0)s3 ,
6
or, eliminating s,
2 ϑ2 (0) 3
p23 = p ,
9 c(0) 2
which is the equation of a semicubic parabola, with a cusp at the origin,
hence a singular point, though the curve p(s) is regular.
 98 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

4.12 Exercises

1. Using the same definition of the derivative of a curve, prove the relations
in Section (4.2).
2. Prove the relations in Eq. (4.2).
3. The curve whose polar equation is

r = a θ, a ∈ R,

is an Archimedes’ spiral, Fig. 4.9(a). Find its curvature c(θ) and its
length (θ), and prove that any straight line passing through the origin
is divided by the spiral in segments of constant length 2π a (that is
why the Archimedes’ spiral is used to record disks).
4. The curve whose polar equation is
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r = aebθ , a, b ∈ R,

is the logarithmic spiral. Prove that the origin is an asymptotic point

of the curve, find its curvature c(θ) and its length (θ), and show
that the length of the segments in which a straight line by the origin
is divided by two consecutive intersections with the spiral varies as
a geometrical progression. Then, prove its equiangular property: The
angle α between p(θ) − o and τ (θ) is constant. Finally, show that the
evolute of the logarithmic spiral is a logarithmic spiral itself (and hence
that its involute is still a logarithmic spiral, that’s why Jc. Bernoulli
coined for this curve the Latin sentence eadem mutata resurgo.)

(a) (b)

Figure 4.9: The (a) Archimedes’ and (b) logarithmic spirals.

 Tensor Analysis: Curves 99

5. The curve whose parametric equation is

p(θ) = a(cos θ + θ sin θ)e1 + a(sin θ − θ cos θ)e2 ,
with θ the angle formed by p(θ) − o and with the axis x1 , is the involute
of the circle, see Fig. 4.10. Find its curvature c(θ) and its length (θ),
and prove that its evolute is exactly the circle of center o and radius a
(that is why the involute of the circle is used to profile gears).
6. The curve whose parametric equation is
p(θ) = a cos ωθe1 + a sin ωθe2 + bωθe3
is a circular helix, i.e. a helix that winds on a circular cylinder of radius
a, see Fig. 4.11. Show that the angle ϕ formed by the helix and any
generatrix of the cylinder is constant (a property that defines a helix in
the general case). Then, find its length (θ), its curvature c(θ), torsion
ϑ(θ), and the pitch d, i.e. the distance, on a same generatrix, between
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two successive intersections with the helix. Prove then the Bertrand’s
theorem: A curve is a cylindrical helix if and only if the ratio c/ϑ =
const. Finally, prove that for the above circular helix, there are two
constants A and B such that
p × p = Au(θ) + Be3 ,
with
u = sin ωθe1 − cos ωθe2 ;
then, find A and B.

Figure 4.10: The involute of the circle and its evolute, the circle.
 100 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 4.11: The circular helix.

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Figure 4.12: The cycloid and its evolute.

7. Find the equation of the cycloid, i.e. of the curve that is the trace of
a point of a circle of radius r rolling without slipping on a horizontal
axis, see Fig. 4.12. Calculate the length of the cycloid for a complete
round of the circle, determine its curvature, and show that the evolute
of the cycloid is the cycloid itself (Huygens, 1659).
8. The planar curve whose parametric equation is

p(t) = te1 + cosh te2

is the catenary (Jc. Bernoulli, 1690; Jn. Bernoulli, Leibniz, and

Huygens, 1691). It is the equilibrium curve of a heavy, perfectly flexible,
and inextensible cable. Calculate the curvature of the catenary and the
equation of its evolute and of its involutes (see Fig. 4.8).
 Tensor Analysis: Curves 101

Figure 4.13: The tractrix and its evolute.

9. The planar curve whose parametric equation is

 
t
p(t) = cos t + ln tan e1 + sin te2
2
is the tractrix (Perrault, 1670; Newton, 1676; Huygens, 1693). This is
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the curve along which an object moves, under the influence of friction,
when pulled on a horizontal plane by a line segment attached to a
tractor that moves at a right angle to the initial line between the object
and the puller at an infinitesimal speed, see Fig. 4.13. Show that the
length of the tangent to the tractrix between the points on the tractrix
itself and the axis x is constant ∀t, calculate the length of the curve
between t1 and t2 , calculate the curvature of the tractrix, and finally
show that its evolute is the catenary.
10. For the curve whose cylindrical equation is

r = 1,
z = sin θ,
find the highest curvature and determine whether or not it is planar.
11. Let p = p(t) be the path of a moving particle of mass m, with t being the
time. Define the velocity and the acceleration of p as, respectively, the
first and second derivative of p with respect to t. Decompose these two
vectors in the Frenet–Serret basis and interpret physically the result.
Recalling the second Newton’s principle of mechanics, what about the
forces on p?
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 Chapter 5

Tensor Analysis: Fields

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5.1 Scalar, vector and tensor fields

Let Ω ⊂ E and f : Ω → V. We say that f is continuous at p ∈ Ω ⇐⇒ ∀

sequence πn = {pn ∈ Ω, n ∈ N} that converges to p ∈ E, the sequence
{vn = f (pn ), n ∈ N} converges to f (p) in V. The function f (p) : Ω → V is a
vector field on Ω if it is continuous at each p ∈ Ω. In the same way, we can
define a scalar field ϕ(p) : Ω → R and a tensor field L(p) : Ω → Lin(V).
A deformation is any continuous and bijective function f (p) : Ω → E, i.e.
any transformation of a region Ω ⊂ E into another region of E; bijectivity
imposes that to any point p ∈ Ω corresponds one and only point in the
transformed region, and vice versa, which is the mathematical condition
expressing the physical constraint of mass conservation.
Finally, the basic difference between fields/deformations and curves is
that a field or a deformation is defined over a subset of E, not of R. In
practice, this implies that the components of the field/deformation are
functions of three variables, the coordinates xi of a point p ∈ Ω.

5.2 Differentiation of fields, differential operators

Let ψ(p) be a scalar, vector, or tensor field or also a deformation; we define

the directional derivative of ψ(p) in the direction of e ∈ S the limit
dψ(p) ψ(p + αe) − ψ(p)
:= lim , α ∈ R.
de α→0 α
The directional derivative measures the rate of variation of ψ(p) in the
direction of e. In the particular case of e = ei , i = 1, 2, 3, i.e. of the

103
 104 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

directions of the basis {e1 , e2 , e3 } of V, then

dψ(p) ψ(p + αei ) − ψ(p)
= lim
dei α→0 α
is the partial derivative of ψ with respect to xi , for example, if i = 1, then
dψ(p) ψ(x1 + α, x2 , x3 ) − ψ(x1 , x2 , x3 )
= lim .
de1 α→0 α
∂ψ
The partial derivative with respect to xi is usually indicated as or also
∂xi
as ψ,i .
Let v(p) : Ω → V; we say that v is differentiable in p0 ∈ Ω ⇐⇒
∃ gradv ∈ Lin(V) such that
v(p0 + u) = v(p) + gradv(p) u + o(u)
when u → o. If v is differentiable ∀p ∈ Ω, gradv defines a tensor field on Ω
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called the gradient of v. It is also possible to define higher order differential

operators using higher order tensors, but this will not be done here. If v is
continuous with gradv ∀p ∈ Ω, then v is of class C1 (smooth).
Let v be a vector field of class C1 on Ω. Then, the divergence of v is the
scalar field defined by
divv := tr(gradv),
while curlv is the unique vector field that satisfies the relation
(gradv − gradv )u = (curlv) × u ∀u ∈ V.
The divergence of a tensor field L is the unique vector field divL that
satisfies
(divL) · u = div(L u) ∀u = const. ∈ V.
Let ϕ(p) : Ω → R be a scalar field over Ω. Similar to the case of vector
fields, we say that ϕ is differentiable at p0 ∈ Ω ⇐⇒ ∃ gradϕ ∈ V such that
ϕ(p + u) = ϕ(p) + gradϕ(p) · u + o(u)
when u → o. If ϕ is differentiable ∀p ∈ Ω, gradϕ defines a vector field on Ω
called the gradient of ϕ. If gradϕ is differentiable, its gradient is the tensor
gradII ϕ called the second gradient or Hessian. It is immediate to show that
under the continuity assumption,
gradII ϕ = (gradII ϕ) .
A level set of a scalar field ϕ(p) is the set SL such that
ϕ(p) = const. ∀p ∈ SL .
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 105

Considering hence two points p and p + u of the same SL , then by the

definition of differentiability of ϕ(p) itself, we see that gradϕ is a vector that
is orthogonal to SL at p. The curves of E that are tangent to gradϕ ∀p ∈ Ω
are the streamlines of ϕ; they have the property to be orthogonal to any
SL of ϕ ∀p ∈ Ω.
gradϕ allows us to calculate the directional derivative of ϕ along any
direction n ∈ S as
dϕ
= gradϕ · n.
dn
The highest variation of ϕ is hence in the direction of gradϕ, and |gradϕ| is
the value of this variation; we also remark that gradϕ is a vector directed
along the increasing values of ϕ.
Similarly, for a vector field v, the directional derivative along any
direction n ∈ S can be computed as
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dv
= gradv n.
dn
Let ψ be a scalar of vector field of class C2 at least. Then, the laplacian
Δψ of ψ is defined by
Δψ := div(gradψ).
By the linearity of the trace, and hence of the divergence, we see easily that
the laplacian of a vector field is the vector field whose components are the
laplacian of each corresponding component of the field. A field is said to be
harmonic on Ω if its laplacian is null ∀p ∈ Ω.
The definitions given above for the differentiable field, gradient, and
class C1 can be repeated verbatim for a deformation f (p) : Ω → E.

5.3 Properties of the differential operators

The differential operators, gradient, divergence, curl, and laplacian, have

some interesting properties that are useful for calculations; they are
introduced in this section.
Theorem 28 (Gradient of products). Let ϕ, ψ be scalar and u, v, w be
vector fields, with all of them differentiable. Then:
(i) grad(ϕψ) = ϕ gradψ + ψ gradϕ,

(ii) grad(ϕv) = ϕ gradv + v ⊗ gradϕ, (5.1)

(iii) grad(v · w) = (gradw) v + (gradv) w.

 106 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof. The proof is based upon the definition of gradient itself1 :

(i) (ϕψ)(p + u) = ϕψ + grad(ϕψ) · u + o(u),
but also,
(ϕψ)(p + u) = ϕ(p + u)ψ(p + u) = (ϕ + gradϕ · u + o(u))
× (ψ + gradψ · u + o(u))
= ϕψ + ϕ gradψ · u + ψ gradϕ · u + o(u)
= ϕψ + (ϕ gradψ + ψ gradϕ) · u + o(u),
so by comparison
grad(ϕψ) = ϕgradψ + ψgradϕ.
(ii) In the same way,
(ϕv)(p + u) = ϕv + grad(ϕv)u + o(u) = ϕv + grad(ϕv)u + o(u),
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but also,
(ϕv)(p + u) = ϕ(p + u)v(p + u) = (ϕ + gradϕ · u + o(u))
× (v + gradv u + o(u))
= ϕv + ϕgradv u + gradϕ · u v + o(u)
= ϕv + (ϕ gradv + v ⊗ gradv)u + o(u),
so comparing the two results, we get
grad(ϕv) = ϕ gradv + v ⊗ gradv.
(iii) In the same way,
(v · w)(p + u) = v · w + grad(v · w)u + o(u),
but also,
(v · w)(p + u) = v(p + u) · w(p + u) = (v + gradv u + o(u))
· (w + gradw u + o(u))
= v · w + v · (gradw u) + (gradv u) · w + o(u)
= v · w + ((gradw) v + (gradv) w) · u + o(u),
whence, by comparison of the two results,
grad(v · w) = (gradw) v + (gradv) w. 

1 Forthe sake of brevity, we omit to indicate the point p, e.g. we simply write ϕ for ϕ(p)
and gradϕ for gradϕ(p).
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 107

Another important result2 relating the gradient and the curl of a vector
field is as follows.

Theorem 29. If v is a differentiable vector field, then

1
(gradv)v = (curlv) × v + gradv2 .
2
Proof.
(curlv) × v = (gradv − (gradv ))v = (gradv)v − (gradv) v
1
= (gradv)v − ((gradv) v + (gradv) v),
2
and by property (iii) of the previous theorem,

(gradv) v + (gradv) v = grad(v · v) = gradv2

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so that
1
(curlv) × v = (gradv)v − gradv2 ,
2
whence we obtain the thesis. 

The proof of the following properties of the gradient are left to the reader
as an exercise:
grad(v · w) = (gradw)v + (gradv)w + v × curlw + w × curlv,
grad(u · v w) = (u · v)gradw + (w ⊗ u)gradv + (w ⊗ v)gradu, (5.2)
 2
gradv · gradv = div((gradv)v − (divv)v) + (divv) .

Theorem 30 (Divergence of products). Let ϕ, u, v, w, L be differen-

tiable scalar, vector, or tensor fields. Then:

(i) div(ϕv) = ϕdivv + v · gradϕ,

(ii) div(v ⊗ w) = vdivw + (gradv)w,
(iii) div(ϕL) = ϕdivL + Lgradϕ,
(iv) div(L v) = L · gradv + v · divL,
(v) div(v × w) = w · curlv − v · curlw.

2 This result is fundamental to fluid mechanics, as it allows us to get an interesting form

of the Navier–Stokes equations.
 108 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof. (i) Using the definition of divergence and property (ii) of

Theorem 28, we get
div(ϕv) = tr(grad(ϕv)) = tr(ϕ gradv + v ⊗ gradϕ)
= ϕ tr(gradv) + tr(v ⊗ gradϕ) = ϕ divv + v · gradϕ.
(ii) By the definition of divergence of a tensor, ∀a = const. ∈ V, and using
the previous property along with property (iii) of Theorem 28:
(div(v ⊗ w) · a = div((v ⊗ w) a) = div(w ⊗ v a) = div(v · a w)
= v · adivw + w · grad(a · v)
= divw v · a + w · (gradv) a + w · (grada) v
= (vdivw + gradv w) · a.
(iii) By the definition of divergence of a tensor, ∀a = const. ∈ V, and using
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property (i), along with property (iii) of Theorem 28:

div(ϕL) · a = div((ϕL) a) = div(ϕL a) = ϕdiv(L a) + L a · gradϕ
= ϕdivL · a + a · Lgradϕ = (ϕdivL + Lgradϕ) · a.
(iv) By the definition of divergence of a tensor and using the previous
property:
div(L v) = div(L vj ej ) = div((vj L )ej ) = div(vj L ) · ej
= div(vj L) · ej = vj divL · ej + L gradvj · ej
= v · divL + (Lpq ep ⊗ eq (gradvj )m em ) · ej
= v · divL + Lpq vj,m δqm δjp = v · divL + L · gradv.
(v) This property can be proved making use of the expression of the cross
product with the Ricci’s alternator, given in Eq. (2.30):
curlv = ijk vk,j ei
and
v × w = ijk vj wk ei ,
whence
div(v × w) = div(ijk vj wk ei ) = ijk (vj wk ),i = ijk vj,i wk + ijk wk,i vj .
Moreover,
w · curlv = wm em · pqr vr,q ep = pqr vr,q wm δpm = pqr vr,q wp = qrp vr,q wp
and
v · curlw = vm em · pqr wr,q ep = pqr wr,q vm δpm = pqr wr,q vp = −qpr wr,q vp ,
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 109

so finally, comparing the last three results (all the subscripts are dummy
indexes, so their denomination is inessential),
div(v × w) = w · curlv − v · curlw.

The divergence has also the following properties:
div(gradv ) = grad(divv),
div((gradv)v) = gradv · gradv + v · grad(divv), (5.3)
 
div(ϕLv) = ϕL · gradv + ϕv · divL + Lv · gradϕ,
whose proofs can be a good exercise for the reader.
The relations of the gradient and divergence with the curl are given by
the following.

Theorem 31. Let ϕ and v be the scalar and vector fields of class C2 .
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Then:
(i) div(curlv) = 0,
(ii) curl(gradϕ) = o.

Proof. (i) Using again the Ricci’s alternator to represent the cross product,
div(curlv) = div(ijk vk,j ei ) = ijk vk,j divei + ijk vk,ji = ijk vk,ji
= v3,21 + v1,32 + v2,13 − v2,31 − v3,12 − v1,23 = 0.
(ii) In a similar manner,
curl(gradϕ) = ijk ϕ,kj ei = ϕ32 + ϕ,13 + ϕ,21 − ϕ,23 − ϕ,31 − ϕ,12 = 0.

The following theorem gives an interesting relation between the curl of a
vector and the divergence of its axial tensor.
Theorem 32 (Curl of an axial vector). Let w be a differentiable vector
field and W its axial tensor field. Then,
curlw = −divW.

Proof. Using properties (iv) and (v) of Theorem 30 and because W =

−W , ∀a = const. ∈ V, we get
div(w × a) = a · curlw − w · curla = a · curlw,
div(Wa) = div(−W a) = −W · grada − a · divW = −a · divW.
Now, because ∀a, w × a = Wa ⇒ div(w × a) = div(Wa), we get the
thesis. 
 110 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

The way the curl of a curl3 is computed is given by the following theorem.

Theorem 33 (Curl of a curl). Let v be a vector field of class ≥C 2 .

Then,

curl(curlv) = grad(divv) − Δv.

Proof. Using properties (iv) and (v) of Theorem 30, along with the first
of Eq. (5.3), ∀a = const. ∈ V, we get

div((curlv) × a) = a · curl(curlv) − curlv · curla = a · curl(curlv),

and by the definition of curl and laplacian,

div((curlv) × a) = div((gradv − (gradv) )a) = div(gradv a)

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− div((gradv) a)
= (gradv) · grada + a · div(gradv) − gradv · grada
− a · div(gradv)
= a · (div(gradv) − div(gradv)) = a · (grad(divv) − Δv),

whence, by comparison,

curl(curlv) = grad(divv) − Δv.



The proof of the following properties of the curl can be obtained using the
above results, and it is a good exercise:

curl(ϕv) = ϕcurlv + gradϕ × v,

(5.4)
curl(v × w) = (gradv)w − (gradw)v + vdivw − wdivv.

Finally, we have a theorem also for the laplacian of a product.

Theorem 34 (Laplacian of products). Let ϕ, ψ, u, v be the scalar and

vector fields of class ≥C2 . Then:

(i) Δ(ϕψ) = 2gradϕ · gradψ + ϕΔψ + ψΔϕ,

(ii) Δ(v · w) = 2gradv · gradw + v · Δw + w · Δv.

3 This relation is useful in fluid mechanics for writing the vorticity equation.
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 111

Proof. (i) Using property (i) of Theorems 28 and 30, we get

Δ(ϕψ) = div(grad(ϕψ)) = div(ϕ gradψ + ψ gradϕ) = div(ϕ gradψ)
+ div(ψ gradϕ)
= ϕ div(gradψ) + gradψ · gradϕ + ψ div(gradϕ) + gradϕ · gradψ
= 2gradϕ · gradψ + ϕ Δψ + ψ Δϕ.
(ii) Using properties (iii) of Theorem 28 and (iv) of Theorem 30, we obtain
Δ(v · w) = div(grad(v · w)) = div((gradw) v + (gradv) w)
= div((gradw) v) + div((gradv) w)
= gradw · gradv + v · div(gradw) + gradv · gradw
+ w · div(gradv)
= 2gradv · gradw + v · Δw + w · Δv. 
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5.4 Theorems on fields

We recall here some classical theorems on fields and operators.

Theorem 35 (Harmonic fields). If v(p) is a vector field of class ≥ C2
such that
divv = 0, curlv = o,
then v is harmonic: Δv = o.
Proof. By the definition of curl,
curlv = o ⇒ gradv − (gradv) = o ⇒ div(gradv − (gradv) ) = o,
and through Eq. (5.3)1 , the definition of laplacian, and because by
hypothesis divv = 0, we have
div(gradv − (gradv) ) = Δv − grad(divv) = Δv. 
We state now without proof a lemma4 that, basically, allows us to transform
a volume integral on a domain Ω to a surface integral on the boundary
surface ∂Ω.
Theorem 36 (Divergence lemma). Let v(p) be a vector field of class
≥ C1 on a regular region
 Ω ⊂ E. Then,
v ⊗ n dA = gradv dV.
∂Ω Ω

4 In the following, ∂Ω indicates the boundary of Ω.

 112 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

This lemma is fundamental for proving the three forms of the Gauss
theorem, which is of paramount importance in many fields of mathematical
physics.

Theorem 37 (Divergence or Gauss theorem). Let ϕ, v, L be, respec-

tively, a scalar, vector, and tensor field of class ≥ C1 on a regular region
Ω ⊂ E. Then:
 
(i) ϕn dA = gradϕ dV,
 ∂Ω Ω
(ii) v · n dA = divv dV,
 ∂Ω  Ω
(iii) Ln dA = divL dV.
∂Ω Ω
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Proof. (i) ∀a = const. ∈ V, by the lemma of divergence,

  
grad(ϕa)dV = ϕa ⊗ n dA = a ⊗ ϕn dA,
Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω

but also, by (ii) of Theorem 28,

  
grad(ϕa)dV = (ϕ grada + a ⊗ gradϕ)dV = a ⊗ gradϕ dV,
Ω Ω Ω

whence, by comparison,
 
ϕn dA = gradϕ dV.
∂Ω Ω

(ii) Still, by the divergence lemma,

   
tr gradv dV = tr v ⊗ n dA = tr(v ⊗ n)dA = v · n dA,
Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω

but also,
  
tr gradv dV = tr(gradv)dV = divv dV,
Ω Ω Ω

so by comparison,
 
v · n dA = divv dV.
∂Ω Ω
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 113

(iii) ∀a = const. ∈ V, by the lemma of divergence, (iv) of Theorem 30 and

(ii) just proved,
   
 
div(L a)dV = (L a) · n dA = a · Ln dA = a · Ln dA,
Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω

but also,
  
div(L a)dV = (divL) · a + L · grada dV = a · divL dV,
Ω Ω Ω

so once again by comparison,

 
Ln dA = divL dV.
∂Ω Ω

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The following identities follow directly from the Gauss theorem:

 
v · Ln dA = (v · divL + L · gradv)dV,
∂Ω Ω
 
(Ln) ⊗ v dA = ((divL) ⊗ v + L(gradv ))dV, (5.5)
∂Ω Ω
 
(w · n)v dA = (vdivw + (gradv)w)dV.
∂Ω Ω

A direct consequence of the Gauss theorem is the following theorem.

Theorem 38 (Flux theorem). Let v(p) be a vector field of class ≥ C1

on an open subset R of E. Then,

divv = 0 ⇐⇒ v · n dA = 0 ∀Ω ⊂ R.
∂Ω

Proof. It immediately follows from (ii) of the Gauss theorem. 

Another consequence of the Gauss theorem is the next theorem.

Theorem 39 (Curl theorem). Let v(p) be a vector field of class ≥ C1

on a regular region Ω ⊂ E. Then,
 
n × v dA = curlv dV.
∂Ω Ω
 114 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 5.1: Scheme for the Stokes theorem.

Proof. If V is the axial tensor of v, by Theorem 32 and (iii) of the Gauss

theorem,
  
n × v dA = − v × n dA = − Vn dA
∂Ω ∂Ω ∂Ω
 
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=− divV dV = curlv dV.

Ω Ω 

The following classical theorems on fields are recalled here without proof.

Theorem 40 (Potential theorem). Let v(p) be a vector field of class

≥ C1 on a simply connected region Ω ⊂ E. Then,

curlv = o ⇐⇒ v = gradϕ,

with ϕ(p) a scalar field of class ≥ C2 , the potential.

Theorem 41 (Stokes theorem). Let v(p) be a vector field of class ≥ C1

on a regular region Ω ⊂ E, Σ an open surface whose support is the closed
line γ and n ∈ S the normal to Σ, see Fig. 5.1. Then,
 
v·d = curlv · n dA.
γ Σ

The parametric equation of γ must be chosen in such a way that

p (t1 ) × p (t2 ) · n > 0 ∀t2 > t1 .

Theorem 42 (Green’s formula). Let ϕ(p), ψ(p) be two scalar fields of

class ≥ C2 on a regular region Ω ⊂ E, with n ∈ S the normal to ∂Ω. Then,
   
dϕ dψ
ψ −ϕ dA = (ψ Δϕ − ϕ Δψ)dV.
∂Ω dn dn Ω
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 115

5.5 Differential operators in Cartesian coordinates

The Cartesian expression of the differential operators can be found without

difficulty by applying the properties of such operators shown previously and
considering that the vectors on the Cartesian basis are fixed. Then,5

gradf = f,i ei ,
gradv = vi,j ei ⊗ ej ,
divv = vi,i ,
divL = Lij,j ei , (5.6)
Δf = f,ii ,
Δv = Δvi ei = vi,jj ei ,
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curlv = (v3,2 − v2,3 )e1 + (v1,3 − v3,1 )e2 + (v2,1 − v1,2 )e3 .

The so-called operator nabla ∇:,

∂· ∂· ∂· ∂·
∇ := ei = e1 + e2 + e3 , (5.7)
∂xi ∂x1 ∂x2 ∂x3

is often used to indicate the differential operators:

gradf = ∇f,
divv = ∇ · v,
curlv = ∇ × v,
Δf = ∇2 f.

5.6 Differential operators in cylindrical coordinates

The cylindrical coordinates ρ, θ, z of a point p whose Cartesian coordinates

in the (fixed) frame {o; e1 , e2 , e3 } are p = (x1 , x2 , x3 ) are shown in Fig. 5.2.

5 In
what follows, and also in the following sections, f, v, L are, respectively, scalar, vector,
and tensor fields.
 116 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 5.2: Cylindrical coordinates.

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They are related together by


ρ= x21 + x22 ,
x2
θ = arctan , (5.8)
x1
z = x3 ,

or conversely,

x1 = ρ cos θ,
x2 = ρ sin θ, (5.9)
x3 = z.

We note that ρ ≥ 0 and that the anomaly θ is bounded by 0 ≤ θ < 2π.

A vector p − o = xi ei in the cylindrical basis is expressed as

p − o = ρeρ + zez ,

and the rotation tensor transforming the Cartesian basis, {e1 , e2 , e3 }, into
the cylindrical one, {eρ , eθ , ez }, is
⎡ ⎤
cos θ − sin θ 0
⎢ ⎥
Q = ⎣ sin θ cos θ 0⎦,
0 0 1
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 117

so the relations between the vectors of the Cartesian and the cylindrical
basis are

eρ = cos θe1 + sin θe2 ,

eθ = − sin θe1 + cos θe2 ,
ez = e3 ,

and vice versa:

e1 = cos θeρ − sin θeθ ,

e2 = sin θeρ + cos θeθ , (5.10)
e3 = ez .
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The question is: How can we express the differential operators in the
(moving) frame {p; eρ , eθ , ez }? To this end, we can proceed as follows: From
Eq. (5.8),
⎧ x x
⎪ f,1 = f,ρ 1 − f,θ 2 ,
⎪ ρ ρ2
∂ρ ∂θ ∂z ⎨
f,i = f,ρ + f,θ + f,z → x2 x1
⎪ f,2 = f,ρ ρ + f,θ ρ2 ,
(5.11)
∂xi ∂xi ∂xi
⎪
⎩
f,3 = f,z .

So, by Eqs. (5.6)1 and (5.10),

 
x1 x2
gradf = fi ei = f,ρ − f,θ 2 (cos θeρ − sin θeθ )
ρ ρ
 
x2 x1
+ f,ρ + f,θ 2 (sin θeρ + cos θeθ ) + f,z ez .
ρ ρ

Finally, by Eq. (5.9) and through some standard operations, we obtain

1
gradf = f,ρ eρ + f,θ eθ + f,z ez .
ρ

The gradient of a vector field v can be obtained in a similar way: If

we denote by vCart the vector v expressed by its Cartesian components
(v1 , v2 , v3 ) and by vcyl the same vector expressed through the cylindrical
 118 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

ones, {vρ , vθ , vz }, then, cf. Section 2.11,

⎧
⎪ v1 = vρ cos θ − vθ sin θ,
⎨
vCart = Qvcyl → v2 = vρ sin θ + vθ cos θ, (5.12)
⎪
⎩
v3 = vz .
Applying Eq. (5.11) to these components, we get
x1 x2
vi,1 = vi,ρ − vi,θ 2 ,
ρ ρ
x2 x1
vi,2 = vi,ρ + vi,θ 2 , (5.13)
ρ ρ
vi,3 = vi,z .
Injecting these expressions into Eq. (5.6)2 for vi,j s and (5.10) for ei s gives
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finally6
1
gradv = vρ,ρ (eρ ⊗ eρ ) + (vρ,θ − vθ )(eρ ⊗ eθ ) + vρ,z (eρ ⊗ ez )
ρ
1
+ vθ,ρ (eθ ⊗ eρ ) + (vθ,θ + vρ )(eθ ⊗ eθ ) + vθ,z (eθ ⊗ ez )
ρ
1
+ vz,ρ (ez ⊗ eρ ) + vz,θ (ez ⊗ eθ ) + vz,z (ez ⊗ ez ),
ρ
or, in matrix form,
⎡ 1 ⎤
v (vρ,θ − vθ ) vρ,z
⎢ ρ,ρ ρ ⎥
⎢ 1 ⎥
gradv = vθ,ρ (vθ,θ + vρ ) vθ,z .
⎢ ρ ⎥
⎣ 1 ⎦
vz,ρ vz,θ vz,z
ρ
By the definition of divergence, we get immediately
1
divv = vρ,ρ + (vθ,θ + vρ ) + vz,z . (5.14)
ρ
Now, from Eq. (5.6), we see that divL is the vector whose components are
the divergence of the rows of the matrix representing L. So, we need first

6 Though straightforward, the details of the calculations for this formula, as for the
following ones, are particularly long and tedious, which is why they are omitted here;
however, they are a good exercise for the reader.
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 119

to calculate the Cartesian components of L as functions of the cylindrical

ones, cf. Section 2.11:

⎧
⎪L11 = − sin θ(Lρθ cos θ − Lθθ sin θ) + cos θ(Lρρ cos θ − Lθρ sin θ),
⎪
⎪
⎪L12 = cos θ(Lρθ cos θ − Lθθ sin θ) + sin θ(Lρρ cos θ − Lθρ sin θ),
⎪
⎪
⎪L13 = Lρz cos θ − Lθz sin θ,
⎪
⎪
⎪L21 = − sin θ(Lθθ cos θ + Lρθ sin θ) + cos θ(Lθρ cos θ + Lρρ sin θ),
⎪
⎨

LCart = QLcyl Q → L22 = cos θ(Lθθ cos θ + Lρθ sin θ) + sin θ(Lθρ cos θ + Lρρ sin θ),
⎪
⎪
⎪L23 = Lθz cos θ + Lρz sin θ,
⎪
⎪
⎪L31 = Lzρ cos θ − Lzθ sin θ,
⎪
⎪
⎪L32 = Lzθ cos θ + Lzρ sin θ,
⎪
⎪
⎩
L33 = Lzz ,
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then, applying Eqs. (5.10) and (5.14) in Eq. (5.6)3 for the vectors vi =
(Li1 , Li2 , Li3 ), i = 1, 2, 3, we get, through long but standard operations
and after putting θ = 0 to obtain the components of divL in the basis
{eρ , eθ , ez },

 
1
divL = ((ρLρρ ),ρ + Lρθ,θ − Lθθ ) + Lρz,z eρ
ρ
 
1
+ Lθρ,ρ + (Lθθ,θ + Lρθ + Lθρ ) + Lθz,z eθ
ρ
 
1
+ ((ρLzρ ),ρ + Lzθ,θ ) + Lzz,z ez .
ρ

To obtain Δf = f,ii , we need to apply twice Eq. (5.11), which gives

 
x1 x2 x1 ρ − x1 ρ,1 x2 2x2 ρρ,1
f,11 = f,ρ − f,θ 2 = f,ρ1 + f,ρ − f,θ1 2 + f,θ
ρ ρ ,1 ρ ρ2 ρ ρ4
   
x1 x2 x1 ρ2 − x21 x1 x2 x2 2x1 x2
= f,ρρ − f,ρθ 2 + f,ρ − f ,ρθ − f,θθ + f,θ
ρ ρ ρ ρ3 ρ ρ2 ρ2 ρ4
sin θ cos θ sin2 θ sin2 θ sin θ cos θ
= f,ρρ cos2 θ − 2f,ρθ + f,ρ + f,θθ 2 + 2f,θ ,
ρ ρ ρ ρ2
 120 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

 
x2 x1 x2 ρ − x2 ρ,2 x1 2x1 ρρ,2
f,22 = f,ρ + f,θ 2 = f,ρ2
+ f,ρ + f,θ2 2 − f,θ
ρ ,2
ρ ρ ρ 2 ρ ρ4
   
x2 x1 x2 ρ2 − x22 x2 x1 x1 2x1 x2
= f,ρρ + f,ρθ 2 + f,ρ + f,ρθ + f,θθ − f,θ
ρ ρ ρ ρ3 ρ ρ2 ρ2 ρ4
sin θ cos θ cos2 θ cos2 θ sin θ cos θ
= f,ρρ sin2 θ + 2f,ρθ + f,ρ + f,θθ − 2f,θ ,
ρ ρ ρ2 ρ2

f,33 = f,zz .

So, adding these terms together, we finally have

1 1
Δf = (ρf,ρ ),ρ + 2 f,θθ + f,zz .
ρ ρ
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The laplacian Δv of a vector field v, Eq. (5.6)6 , can be obtained by following

the same steps for each one of the components in Eq. (5.12), which gives

 
1 1 1
Δv = (ρvρ,ρ ),ρ + 2 vρ,θθ + vρ,zz − 2 (vρ + 2vθ,θ ) eρ
ρ ρ ρ
 
1 1 1
+ (ρvθ,ρ ),ρ + 2 vθ,θθ + vθ,zz − 2 (vθ − 2vρ,θ ) eθ
ρ ρ ρ
 
1 1
+ (ρvz,ρ ),ρ + 2 vz,θθ + vz,zz ez .
ρ ρ

Finally, injecting Eqs. (5.10), (5.12), and (5.13) into Eq. (5.6)7 gives

   
1 1
curlv = vz,θ − vθ,z eρ + (vρ,z − vz,ρ )eθ + ((ρvθ ),ρ − vρ,θ ) ez .
ρ ρ
(5.15)

5.7 Differential operators in spherical coordinates

The spherical coordinates r, ϕ, θ of a point p, whose Cartesian coordinates

in the (fixed) frame {o; e1 , e2 , e3 } are p = (x1 , x2 , x3 ), are shown in Fig. 5.3.
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 121

Figure 5.3: Spherical coordinates.

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They are related together by


r= x21 + x22 + x23 ,

x21 + x22
ϕ = arctan ,
x3
x2
θ = arctan ,
x1

or conversely,

x1 = r cos θ sin ϕ,
x2 = r sin θ sin ϕ,
x3 = r cos ϕ.

We note that r ≥ 0 and that the anomaly θ is bounded by 0 ≤ θ < 2π

while the colatitude ϕ by 0 ≤ ϕ ≤ π.
The procedure to determine the expression of the differential operators
in spherical coordinates, i.e. in the (moving) frame {p; er , eϕ , eθ }, is
identical to that used for the cylindrical coordinates, but the analytical
developments are even more complicated and long, so they are omitted
here and only the final formulae are given as follows:

1 1
gradf = f,r er + f,ϕ eϕ + f,θ eθ ,
r r sin ϕ
 122 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

 
1 1 1
gradv = vr,r er ⊗ er + (vr,ϕ − vϕ )er ⊗ eϕ + vr,θ − vθ er ⊗ eθ
r r sin ϕ
1
+ vϕ,r eϕ ⊗ er + (vϕ,ϕ + vr )eϕ ⊗ eϕ
r
 
1 1
+ vϕ,θ − vθ cot ϕ eϕ ⊗ eθ
r sin ϕ
1
+ vθ,r eθ ⊗ er + vθ,ϕ eθ ⊗ eϕ
r
 
1 1
+ vθ,θ + vr + vϕ cot ϕ eθ ⊗ eθ ,
r sin ϕ

or in matrix form,
⎡   ⎤
1 1 1
⎢ vr,r r (vr,ϕ − vϕ ) vr,θ − vθ
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⎥
r sin ϕ 
⎢ 1 1 1 ⎥
gradv = ⎢ vϕ,r (vϕ,ϕ + vr ) vϕ,θ − vθ cot ϕ ⎥,
r r sin ϕ 
⎣ 1 1 1 ⎦
vθ,r vθ,ϕ vθ,θ + vr + vϕ cot ϕ
r r sin ϕ

1 2 1
divv = (r vr ),r + ((vϕ sin ϕ),ϕ + vθ,θ ),
r2 r sin ϕ

 
1 2 1 1 Lϕϕ + Lθθ cot ϕ
divL = 2 (r Lrr ),r + Lrϕ,ϕ + Lrθ,θ − + Lrϕ er
r r r sin ϕ r r

1 2 1 1 1
+ (r Lϕr ),r + Lϕϕ,ϕ + Lϕθ,θ + Lrϕ
r2 r r sin ϕ r

cot ϕ
+ (Lϕϕ − Lθθ ) eϕ
r

1 2 1 1
+ 2
(r Lθr ),r + Lθϕ,ϕ + Lθθ,θ
r r r sin ϕ

1 cot ϕ
+ Lrθ + (Lϕθ + Lθϕ ) eθ ,
r r

 
1 1 f,θθ
Δf = 2 (r2 f,r ),r + 2 + (f,ϕ sin ϕ),ϕ ,
r r sin ϕ sin ϕ
 Tensor Analysis: Fields 123


2vr,r vr,ϕϕ − 2vϕ,ϕ vr,ϕ − 2vϕ
Δv = vr,rr + + + 2
r r2 r tan ϕ
  
1 vr,θθ 2vr
+ 2 − 2vθ,θ − 2 er
r sin ϕ sin ϕ r

2vϕ,r vϕ,ϕϕ+2vr,ϕ vϕ,ϕ−vϕ cot ϕ
+ vϕ,rr+ + +
r r2 r2 tan ϕ

1 vϕ
+ 2 2 (vϕ,θθ−2vθ,θ cos ϕ)− 2 eϕ
r sin ϕ r
  
2vθ,r vθ,ϕϕ 2vϕ,θ 1
+ vθ,rr+ + 2 + vθ,ϕ+
r r sin ϕ r2 tan ϕ
  
1 vθ,θθ vθ
+ 2 +2vr,θ − 2 2 eθ ,
r sin ϕ sin ϕ r sin ϕ
 
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1
curlv = ((vθ sin ϕ),ϕ − vϕ,θ ) er
r sin ϕ
 
1 1
+ vr,θ − (rvθ ),r eϕ
r sin ϕ r
 
1
+ ((rvϕ ),r − vr,ϕ ) eθ .
r

5.8 Exercises

1. Prove the relations of Eq. (5.2).

2. Prove the properties of the divergence in Eq. (5.3).
3. Prove the properties of the curl in Eq. (5.4).
4. Prove the identities in Eq. (5.5).
5. Prove that
dϕ dv
= gradϕ · n, = gradv n ∀n ∈ S.
dn dn
6. Prove the results of Eq. (5.6).
7. Consider a rigid body B and a point p0 ∈ B. From the kinematics of
rigid bodies, we know that the velocity of another point p ∈ B is given
by
v(p) = v(p0 ) + ω × (p − p0 ),
with ω the angular velocity. Prove that
1
ω = curlv, divv = 0.
2
 124 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

8. In the infinitesimal theory of strain, a deformation is isochoric when

divu = 0, u being the corresponding displacement vector. Determine
which, among the following ones, are locally or globally isochoric
deformations:
i. u = α(x1 , x2 , x3 ), α ∈ R, |α| 1;
ii. u = β(x2 + x3 , x1 + x3 , x1 + x2 ), β ∈ R, |β| 1;
iii. u = γ(x1 x2 , x2 x3 , x3 x1 ), γ ∈ R, |γ| 1;
iv. u = δ(sin x1 , − cos x2 , sin x3 ), δ ∈ R, |δ| 1.
9. In fluid mechanics, the condition divv = 0, with v being the velocity
field, characterizes incompressible flows. Verify that the following veloc-
ity fields, given in cylindrical coordinates, correspond to incompressible
flows (α ∈ R):
α
i. source or sink: v = eρ ;
ρ
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α
ii. vortex: v = eθ ;
ρ
α
iii. doublet: v = 2 (cos θeρ + sin θeθ ).
ρ
10. A flow with curlv = o is said to be irrotational; check that the flows in
the previous exercise are irrotational.
 Chapter 6

Curvilinear Coordinates
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6.1 Introduction

All the developments in the previous chapters are intended for the case
where algebraic and differential operators are expressed in a Cartesian
frame, i.e. with rectangular coordinates. The points of E are thus referred
to a system of coordinates taken along straight lines that are mutually
orthogonal and with the same unit along each one of the directions of the
frame. Though this is a very important and common case, it is not the only
possibility, and in many cases, non-rectangular coordinate frames are used
or arise in the mathematical developments (a typical example is that of the
geometry of surfaces, see Chapter 7). A non-rectangular coordinate frame
is a frame where coordinates can be taken along non-orthogonal directions
or along some lines that intersect at right angles but that are not straight
lines, or even when both of these cases occur. This situation is often denoted
in the literature as that of curvilinear coordinates; the transformations to
be done to algebraic and differential operators in the case of curvilinear
coordinates is the topic of this chapter.

6.2 Curvilinear coordinates, metric tensor

Let us consider an arbitrary origin o of E and an orthonormal basis e =

{e1 , e2 , e3 } of V; we indicate the coordinates of a point p ∈ E with respect
to the frame R = {o; e1 , e2 , e3 } by xk : p = (x1 , x2 , x3 ). Then, we also
consider another set of coordinate lines for E, where the position of a point
p ∈ E with respect to the same arbitrary origin o of E is now determined by

125
 126 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

z3
x3

x2
z2
o
x1
z1

Figure 6.1: Cartesian and curvilinear coordinates.

a set of three numbers z j : p = {z 1 , z 2 , z 3 }. Nothing is a priori required of

coordinates z j , namely they do not need to be a set of Cartesian coordinates,
i.e. referring to an orthonormal basis of V. In principle, the coordinates z j
can be taken along non-straight lines that do not need to be mutually
orthogonal at o and also with different units along each line. That is why
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we call z j s curvilinear coordinates, see Fig. 6.1. Any point p ∈ E can be

identified by either set of coordinates; mathematically, this means that there
must be an isomorphism between xk s and z j s, i.e. invertible relations of the
kind

z j = z j (x1 , x2 , x3 ) = z j (xk ), xk = xk (z 1 , z 2 , z 3 ) = xk (z j ) ∀j, k = 1, 2, 3,

(6.1)

exist between the two sets of coordinates. The distance between two points
p, q ∈ E is1
 
s = (p − q) · (p − q) = (xpk − xqk )(xpk − xqk ),

but this is no longer true for curvilinear coordinates:


p q p q
s  = (z j − z j )(z j − z j ).

However, if p → q, we can define

p q
dxk = xpk − xqk , dz j = z j − z j ,

so using Eq. (6.1)2 ,

∂xk j
dxk = dz . (6.2)
∂z j

1 The distance between two points p and q is still defined as the Euclidean norm of (p−q),

i.e. it is independent of the set of coordinates.

 Curvilinear Coordinates 127

The (infinitesimal) distance between p and q will then be

 
 ∂xk ∂xk j l
ds = dxk dxk = dz dz = gjl dz j dz l ,
∂z j ∂z l
where
∂xk ∂xk
gjl = glj = (6.3)
∂z j ∂z l
are the covariant2 components of the metric tensor3 g ∈ Sym(V). We note
that, as g defines a positive quadratic form (the length of a vector), it is a
positive definite symmetric tensor, so
det g > 0. (6.4)
Coming back to the vector notation, from Eq. (6.2), we get4
∂xi k
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dx = dxi ei = dz ei ;
∂z k
introducing the vector gk ,
∂xi
gk := ei , (6.5)
∂z k
we can write
dx = dz k gk .
We see hence that a vector dx can be expressed as a linear combination of
the vectors gk ; these form therefore a basis, called the local basis. Generally,
gk ∈/ S, and it is clearly tangent to the lines z j = const. This can be seen
in Fig. 6.2 for a two-dimensional case:
xi (z 1 , z 2 + Δz 2 , z 3 ) − xi (z 1 , z 2 , z 3 ) 2
dx = lim Δx = lim Δz ei
Δx→0 Δx→0 Δz 2
∂xi
= ei dz 2 = g2 dz 2 .
∂z 2
Then,
∂xi ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj
gk · gl = ei · ej = k l δij = gkl , (6.6)
∂z k ∂z l ∂z ∂z

2 The notion of co- and contravariant components is detailed in the next section.
3 As usually done in the literature, we indicate the metric tensor by g, i.e. a lowercase
letter, though it is a second-rank tensor, not a vector.
4 The differential dx is a vector because it is the difference of two infinitely close points;

that is why it is not necessary to denote it in bold letters.

 128 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

z1=const.

g1 g2

x z2=const.

z 2)
, z 2+
x(z ,

x (z 1
e2

1 z2 ) o e1
Figure 6.2: Tangent vectors to the curvilinear coordinates lines.

i.e. the components of the metric tensor g are the scalar products of the
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tangent vectors gk s. If the curvilinear coordinates are orthogonal, i.e. if

gh · gk = 0 ∀h, k = 1, 2, 3, h  =k, then g is diagonal. If, in addition, gk ∈
S ∀k = 1, 2, 3, then g = I: It is the case of Cartesian coordinates. As an
example, let us consider the case of polar coordinates:
⎧ 
 ⎨ z 1 = r = x21 + x22 ,
x1 = r cos θ,
x
x2 = r sin θ, ⎩ z 2 = θ = arctan 2 .
x1
Hence, from Fig. 6.3,
∂x1 ∂x2
g1 = e1 + e2 = cos θe1 + sin θe2 = er ,
∂z 1 ∂z 1
∂x1 ∂x2
g2 = e1 + e2 = −r sin θe1 + r cos θe2 = reθ .
∂z 2 ∂z 2
We remark that |g1 | = 1 but |g2 |  = 1, and it is variable with the position.

6.3 Co- and contravariant components

A geometrical way to introduce the concept of covariant and contravariant

components is to consider how to represent a vector v in the z−system.
There are basically two ways, cf. Fig. 6.4, referred, for the sake of simplicity,
to a planar case:

(i) Contravariant components: v is projected parallel to z 1 and z 2 ; they

are indicated by superscripts: v = (v 1 , v 2 , v 3 ).
(ii) Covariant components: v is projected perpendicularly to z 1 and z 2 ;
they are indicated by subscripts: v = (v1 , v2 , v3 ).
 Curvilinear Coordinates 129

re =g2
e er=g1

e2

r=c
st.

ons
on

t.
=c

e1

Figure 6.3: Tangent vectors to the polar coordinates lines.

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x2 x2
v2
vx2 vx2
z2 z2
v2 v v
z1 z1 v1
2 v1 2
1 1
vx1 x1 vx1 x1
Figure 6.4: Contravariant (left) and covariant (right) components of a vector in a plane.

Still referring to the planar case in Fig. 6.4, if the Cartesian components5
of v are v = (v1x , v2x ), we get
 1 
v = h(v1x sin α2 − v2x cos α2 ), v1 = v1x cos α1 + v2x sin α1 ,
2 (6.7)
v = h(−v1 sin α1 + v2 cos α1 ),
x x
v2 = v1x cos α2 + v2x sin α2 ,
and conversely,
 x 
v1 = v 1 cos α1 + v 2 cos α2 , v1x = h(v1 sin α2 − v2 sin α1 ),
(6.8)
v2x = v 1 sin α1 + v 2 sin α2 , v2x = h(−v1 cos α2 + v2 cos α1 ),
with
1
h= .
sin(α2 − α1 )

5 Inthe following, we use the superscript x to indicate a Cartesian component: vix is the
ith Cartesian component of v ∈ V and Lx ij the ijth Cartesian component of L ∈ Lin(V).
 130 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

x2
z2

x2 p

z2
z1
2
z1
1
x1 x1
Figure 6.5: Relation between Cartesian and contravariant components.

It is apparent that the Cartesian coordinates are at the same time co-
and contravariant. Still, on a planar scheme, we can see how to pass from
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a system of coordinates to another one, cf. Fig. 6.5. For a point p, the
Cartesian coordinates (x1 , x2 ) are related to the contravariant ones by
x1 = z 1 cos α1 + z 2 cos α2 ,
x2 = z 1 sin α1 + z 2 sin α2 ,
and conversely,
z 1 = h(x1 sin α2 − x2 cos α2 ),
z 2 = h(−x1 sin α1 + x2 cos α1 ).
So, differentiating, we get
∂x1 ∂x1
= cos α1 , = cos α2 ,
∂z 1 ∂z 2
∂x2 ∂x2
= sin α1 , = sin α2
∂z 1 ∂z 2
and
∂z 1 ∂z 1
= h sin α2 , = −h cos α2 ,
∂x1 ∂x2
∂z 2 ∂z 2
= −h sin α1 , = h cos α1 .
∂x1 ∂x2
Injecting these expressions into Eqs. (6.7) and (6.8) gives
∂x1 ∂x2
v1 = v1x 1
+ v2x 1 , ∂xk x
∂z ∂z → vi = v (6.9)
∂x 1 ∂x 2 ∂z i k
v2 = v1x 2 + v2x 2 ,
∂z ∂z
 Curvilinear Coordinates 131

and
∂z 1 ∂z 1
v 1 = v1x + v2x ,
∂x1 ∂x2 ∂z i x
→ vi = v . (6.10)
2 x ∂z
2
x ∂z
2 ∂xk k
v = v1 + v2 ,
∂x1 ∂x2
Now, if we calculate
∂z i x
ghi v i = ghi v
∂xk k
from Eq. (6.3) and by the chain rule,6 we get
∂xj ∂xj ∂z i x
ghi v i = v
∂z h ∂z i ∂xk k
∂xj ∂xj x ∂xj ∂xk x
= h vk = δjk vkx = v = vh ,
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∂z ∂xk ∂z h ∂z h k
i.e. we obtain the rule of lowering of the indices for passing from contravari-
ant to covariant components:
vh = ghi v i .
Introducing the inverse7 to ghi as
∂z h ∂z i
g hi = , (6.11)
∂xk ∂xk
we get, again using the chain rule,
∂xk x ∂z h ∂z i ∂xk x
g hi vi = g hi vk = v
∂z i ∂xj ∂xj ∂z i k
∂z h ∂xk x ∂z h ∂z h x
= vk = δjk vkx = v = vh ,
∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xk k
which is the rule of raising of the indices for passing from covariant to
contravariant components:
v h = g hi vi .

6 The reader can easily see that, in practice, the chain rule allows us to handle the
derivatives as fractions.
7 To prove that the contravariant components g pq are the inverse of the covariant ones,

gpq , is direct:
∂z p ∂z q ∂xj ∂xj
g pq gpq = = δjk δjk = 1.
∂xk ∂xk ∂z p ∂z q
 132 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Again applying the chain rule, by Eq. (6.9), we get

∂z i ∂z i ∂xk x ∂xk x
vi = v = v = δkl vkx ,
∂x l ∂xl ∂z i k ∂xl k

i.e.

∂z i
vkx = vi , (6.12)
∂xk

which is the converse of Eq. (6.9). In a similar way, we get the converse of
Eq. (6.10):

∂xk i
vkx = v. (6.13)
∂z i
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Let us now calculate the norm v of a vector v; starting from the Cartesian
components and using the last two results,
  
√  ∂z i ∂z j ∂z i ∂z j
v = v · v = vkx vkx = vi vj = vi vj = g ij vi vj ,
∂xk ∂xk ∂xk ∂xk

or also,
  
√  ∂xk i ∂xk j ∂xk ∂xk i j
v = v · v = vkx vkx = v v = vv = gij v i v j
∂z i ∂z j ∂z i ∂z j

and even,

√  ∂z i ∂xk j ∂z i ∂xk
v= v·v = vkx vkx = vi v = vi v j
∂xk ∂z j ∂xk ∂z j
 
= δ ij vi v j = vi v i .

Through Eq. (6.13) and by the definition of the tangent vectors to the lines
of curvilinear coordinates, in Eq. (6.5), for a vector v, we get

∂xi
v = vix ei = v k ei = v k gk .
∂z k

We see hence that the contravariant components are actually the com-
ponents of v in the basis composed of gk s, the tangents to the lines of
curvilinear coordinates. In a similar manner, if we introduce the dual basis
 Curvilinear Coordinates 133

whose vectors gk are defined as

∂z k
gk := ei (6.14)
∂xi
and proceeding in the same way, we obtain that
∂z k
v = vix ei = vk ei = vk gk ,
∂xi
i.e. the covariant components are actually the components of v in the dual
basis. Finally, for a vector, we have, alternatively,
v = vix ei = v k gk = vk gk . (6.15)
Just as for gk s, we have
∂z h ∂z k ∂z h ∂z k ∂z h ∂z k
gh · gk = ei · ej = δij = = g hk ;
∂xi ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xi ∂xi
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moreover,
∂z h ∂xj ∂z h ∂xj ∂z h ∂xi ∂z h
g h · gk = ei · ej = δ ij = = = δ hk ,
∂xi ∂z k ∂xi ∂z k ∂xi ∂z k ∂z k
and by the symmetry of the scalar product,
δhk := gh · gk = gk · gh = δ kh .
The last equations define the orthogonality conditions for the g vectors.
Using these results and Eq. (6.15), we also have
v k = δ kh v h = gk · v h gh = gk · v = gk · vh gh = g kh vh ,
vk = δkh vh = gk · vh gh = gk · v = gk · v h gh = gkh v h ,
thus finding again the rules of raising and lowering of the indices.
What was done for vectors can be transposed, using a similar approach,
to tensors. In particular, for a second-rank tensor L, we get
∂z i ∂z j x
Lij = L ,
∂xh ∂xk hk (6.16)
∂xh ∂xk x
Lij = L
∂z i ∂z j hk
for the contravariant and covariant components, respectively, while we can
also introduce the mixed components:
∂z i ∂xk x
Li j = L ,
∂xh ∂z j hk
(6.17)
j ∂xh ∂z j x
Li = L .
∂z i ∂xk hk
 134 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Conversely,

∂xh ∂xk ij
Lxhk = L ,
∂z i ∂z j
∂z i ∂z j
Lxhk = Lij ,
∂xh ∂xk
(6.18)
∂xh ∂z j i
Lxhk = L ,
∂z i ∂xk j
∂z i ∂xk j
Lxhk = L .
∂xh ∂z j i

Also, for L, the rule of lowering or raising the indices is valid:

Lij = g ih g jk Lhk , Lij = gih gjk Lhk . (6.19)

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From Eq. (6.18) and by the same definitions of gij , Eq. (6.3), and g ij , Eq.
(6.11), we get

∂xi ∂xj hk
L = Lxij ei ⊗ ej = L ei ⊗ ej = Lhk gh ⊗ gk
∂z h ∂z k

and

∂z h ∂z k
L = Lxij ei ⊗ ej = Lhk ei ⊗ ej = Lhk gh ⊗ gk .
∂xi ∂xj

In a similar manner, the tensor mixed components are also found:

∂xi ∂z k h
L = Lxij ei ⊗ ej = L ei ⊗ ej = Lhk gh ⊗ gk
∂z h ∂xj k

and

∂z k ∂xi k
L = Lxij ei ⊗ ej = L ei ⊗ ej = Lhk gh ⊗ gk .
∂xj ∂z h h

We see hence that a second-rank tensor can be given with four different
combinations of coordinates; even more complex is the case of higher-order
tensors, which will not be treated here.
 Curvilinear Coordinates 135

∂z i
Still, by Eqs. (6.3) and (6.11) and applying the chain rule to δji = j ,
∂z
we get
∂xk ∂xk ∂xh ∂xk
gij = = δhk ,
∂z ∂z
i j ∂z i ∂z j
∂z i ∂z j ∂z i ∂z j
g ij = = δhk ,
∂xk ∂xk ∂xh ∂xk
(6.20)
∂z i ∂xk
δ ij = δhk ,
∂xh ∂z j
∂xh ∂z j
δi j = δhk .
∂z i ∂xk
So, applying Eq. (6.18) to the identity tensor, we get
∂xi ∂xj hk
I = δij ei ⊗ ej = I ei ⊗ ej = I hk gh ⊗ gk ,
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∂z h ∂z k
but by Eqs. (6.16) and (6.20),
∂z h ∂z k
I hk = δij = g hk ,
∂xi ∂xj
so finally,

I = g hk gh ⊗ gk .

Proceeding in a similar manner, we can also get

I = ghk gh ⊗ gk = δkh gh ⊗ gk = δhk gh ⊗ gk .

We see hence that ghk s represent I in covariant coordinates, g hk s in the

contravariant ones, and δhk s and δkh s in mixed coordinates.

6.4 Spatial derivatives of fields in curvilinear coordinates

Let ϕ be a spatial8 scalar field, ϕ : E → R. Generally,

ϕ = ϕ(z j (xi )),

or also,

ϕ = ϕ(xj (z k )),

8 The term spatial here refers to differentiation with respect to spatial coordinates, which

can be Cartesian or curvilinear.

 136 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

where xj s, z k s are, respectively, Cartesian and curvilinear coordinates

related as in Eq. (6.1). By the chain rule,
∂ϕ ∂ϕ ∂z k
= , (6.21)
∂xj ∂z k ∂xj
and inversely,
∂ϕ ∂ϕ ∂xj
= .
∂z k ∂xj ∂z k
We remark that the last quantity transforms like the components of a
covariant vector, cf. Eq.(6.9).
The gradient of ϕ is the vector that in the Cartesian basis, cf. Eq. (5.6)1 ,
is given by
∂ϕ
∇ϕ = ej ,
∂xj
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so by Eqs. (6.14) and (6.21), we get that in the dual basis,

∂ϕ ∂z k ∂ϕ
∇ϕ = ej = k g k .
∂z k ∂xj ∂z
We see hence that in curvilinear coordinates, the nabla operator, Eq. (5.7),
is defined by
∂· k
∇(·) = g . (6.22)
∂z k
The contravariant components of the gradient can be obtained by the
covariant ones upon multiplication by the components of the inverse
(contravariant) metric tensor, Eq. (6.11):
∂ϕ ∂z h ∂z k ∂ϕ ∂xj ∂ϕ ∂z h ∂ϕ ∂z h ∂ϕ ∂z h
g hk = = δij = → ∇ϕ = gh .
∂z k ∂xi ∂xi ∂xj ∂z k ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj
Let us now consider a vector field v : E → V; we want to calculate the spatial
derivative of its Cartesian components. By the chain rule and Eq. (6.13),
we get
∂vix ∂v x ∂z k ∂z k ∂ ∂xi h ∂z k ∂xi ∂v h ∂ 2 xi
= ik = v = + k l vl
∂xj ∂z ∂xj ∂xj ∂z k ∂z h ∂xj ∂z ∂z
h k ∂z ∂z
∂z k ∂xi ∂v h ∂z h ∂ 2 xm l
= + v ,
∂xj ∂z h ∂z k ∂xm ∂z k ∂z l
whence
∂z h ∂xj ∂vix ∂v h ∂z h ∂ 2 xm l
= + v. (6.23)
∂xi ∂z ∂xj
k ∂z k ∂xm ∂z k ∂z l
 Curvilinear Coordinates 137

Comparing this result with Eq. (6.17)1 , we see that the first member
actually corresponds to the components of a mixed tensor field, which is
the gradient of the vector field v, that we write as
∂v h
v h;k = + Γhkl v l , (6.24)
∂z k
where the functions
∂z h ∂ 2 xm
Γhkl = (6.25)
∂xm ∂z k ∂z l
h
are the Christoffel symbols. We immediately see that Γkl = Γhlk . The
quantity v ;k is the covariant derivative of the contravariant components
h

v h . The proof that the Christoffel symbols can also be written as

1 hm ∂gmk ∂gml ∂gkl
Γhkl = g + − m (6.26)
2 ∂z l ∂z k ∂z
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is left to the reader as an exercise.

Proceeding in a similar way for the covariant components of v but now
using Eqs. (6.12) and (6.17)1 , we get
∂vh
vh;k = − Γlkh vl ,
∂z k
which is the covariant derivative of the covariant components vh .
Using Eqs. (6.23) and (6.24), we conclude that, cf. Eq. (5.6)3 ,
∂vix
divv = = v h;h .
∂xi
Then, applying the operator divergence so defined to the gradient of the
scalar field ϕ, we obtain, in arbitrary coordinates z, the Laplacian Δϕ as
∂ϕ ∂ ∂ϕ ∂ϕ
Δϕ = g hk = g hk + Γhhj g jk . (6.27)
∂z k ;h ∂z h ∂z k ∂z k
Using the definition of the nabla operator in curvilinear coordinates,
Eq. (6.22), jointly to the fact that, cf. Section 5.5,
Δf := div∇ϕ = ∇ · ∇ϕ,
we get the following representation of the Laplace operator in curvilinear
coordinates:
∂ ∂(·) h ∂ 2 (·) h k ∂gh ∂(·) k
Δ(·) = ∇ · ∇(·) = g · gk = g ·g + k h ·g
∂z k ∂z h ∂z k ∂z h ∂z ∂z
∂ 2 (·) hk ∂gh k ∂(·)
= g + k ·g .
∂z k ∂z h ∂z ∂z h
 138 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Let us now calculate the spatial derivatives of the components of a second-

rank tensor L: By Eqs. (6.18)1 and (6.25), we get
∂Lxij ∂z h ∂ ∂xi ∂xj np
= L
∂xk ∂xk ∂z h ∂z n ∂z p
∂z h ∂xi ∂xj ∂Lnp
= + Γnhr Lrp + Γphr Lnr ,
∂xk ∂z n ∂z p ∂z h
which implies that
∂Lnp p ∂xk ∂z n ∂z p ∂Lxij
+ Γ n
L rp
+ Γ L nr
= . (6.28)
∂z h hr hr
∂z h ∂xi ∂xj ∂xk
So, using Eq. (6.16), we can conclude that the expression
∂Lnp
Lnp;h = + Γnhr Lrp + Γphr Lnr (6.29)
∂z h
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represents the covariant derivative of the contravariant components of the

second-rank tensor L. In a similar manner, this time by Eq. (6.18)2 , we
obtain the covariant derivatives of the covariant components of L:
∂Lnp ∂xk ∂xi ∂xj ∂Lxij
− Γ r
L rp − Γ r
L nr = ,
∂z h nh ph
∂z h ∂z n ∂z p ∂xk
i.e.
∂Lnp
Lnp;h = − Γrph Lnr − Γnh
r
Lpr . (6.30)
∂z h
The same procedure with Eqs. (6.18)3,4 gives the covariant derivatives of
the mixed components9 of L:
∂Lnp
Lnp;h = + Γnhr Lrp − Γrph Lnr ,
∂z h (6.31)
∂Lnp
Lnp;h = − Γrph Lnr + Γnhr Lrp .
∂z h
If in Eqs. (6.28) and (6.29) we set p = h, we get
∂Lnh ∂xk ∂z n ∂z h ∂Lxij
Lnh
;h = + Γ n
L rh
+ Γ h
L nr
=
∂z h hr hr
∂z h ∂xi ∂xj ∂xk
∂z n ∂Lxij ∂z n ∂Lxij
= δkj = ,
∂xi ∂xk ∂xi ∂xj
which are the components of the contravariant vector field divL.

9 Equations(6.29)–(6.31) represent the different forms of the components of an operator

depending upon three indices, i.e. of a third-rank tensor: ∇L, the gradient of L.
 Curvilinear Coordinates 139

6.5 Exercises

1. Write g and ds for cylindrical coordinates.

2. Write g and ds for spherical coordinates.
3. Find the length of a helix traced on a circular cylinder of radius R
between the angles θ and θ + 2π.
4. A curve is traced as a quarter circle of radius R, see Fig. 6.6, with ρ
proportional to θ. When the quarter circle is rolled into a cone, the
curve appears as indicated in the figure. Determine the length of the
curve, first using the polar coordinates in the plane of the quarter circle,
then the cylindrical ones for the case of the curve on the cone (exercise
given in the book by Müller, see the suggested texts).
5. Calculate g for a planar system of coordinates composed of two axes z 1
and z 2 inclined, respectively, at α1 and α2 on the axis x1 . Then, find
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the vectors gk and gk , k = 1, 2, check the orthogonality conditions

gh · gk = δkh , determine the norm of these vectors, and design them.
6. Calculate gi s for a system of spherical coordinates.
7. In the plane, elliptical coordinates are defined by the relations

x1 = c cosh z 1 cos z 2 , x2 = c sinh z 1 sin z 2 , z 1 ∈ (0, ∞), z 2 ∈ [0, 2π);

show that the lines z 1 = const. and z 2 = const. are confocal ellipses and
hyperbole, determine the axes of the ellipses in terms of the parameter
c, discuss the limit case of ellipses that degenerate into a crack, and
determine its length. Finally, find g, g1 , and g2 .
8. Determine the co- and contravariant components of a tensor L in
cylindrical coordinates.

R0

(z)
x2
R
h
x3

x1 R
x2
x1
Figure 6.6: Curve in a plane and on a cone.
 140 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

9. Determine the co- and contravariant components of a tensor L in

spherical coordinates.
10. Show that
trL = Lxii = gij Lij = g ij Lij = Li i = Ljj .
11. Prove Eq. (6.26).
12. Prove the lemma of Ricci:
∂gjk
= Γijh gik + Γikh gji .
∂z h
13. Using Eq. (6.26), find the Christoffel symbols for the cylindrical,
spherical, and elliptical (in the plane) coordinates.
14. Write the Laplacian Δf of a spatial scalar field f in cylindrical and
spherical coordinates.
15. Prove that
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g np;h = gnp;h = 0.
 Chapter 7

Surfaces in E
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7.1 Surfaces in E, coordinate lines and tangent planes

A function f (u, v) : Ω ⊂ R2 → E of class ≥C1 and such that its Jacobian

⎡ ⎤
∂f1 ∂f1
⎢ ∂u ∂v ⎥
⎢ ∂f ∂f2 ⎥
J =⎢ 2
∂u ∂v ⎥
⎣ ∂f ∂f ⎦
3 3
∂u ∂v
has maximum rank (rank[J] = 2) defines a surface in E, see Fig. 7.1. We
say also that f is an immersion of Ω into E and that the subset Σ ⊂ E
image of f is the support or trace of the surface f .
As usual, we indicate the derivatives with respect to the variables u
∂f
and v by, for example, = f,u , etc. The condition on the rank of J is
∂u
equivalent to impose that
f,u (u, v) × f,v (u, v)  =o ∀(u, v) ∈ Ω. (7.1)
This allows us to introduce the normal to the surface f is the vector N ∈ S
defined as
f,u × f,v
N := . (7.2)
|f,u × f,v |
A regular point of Σ is a point where N is defined; if N is defined ∀p ∈ Σ,
then the surface is said to be regular.

141
 142 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers
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Figure 7.1: General scheme of a surface and of the tangent space at a point p.

A function γ(t) : G ⊂ R → Ω whose parametric equation is γ(t) =

(u(t), v(t)) describes a curve in Ω whose image, through f , is the curve, see
Fig. 7.1,

 (t) = f (u(t), v(t)) : G ⊂ R → Σ ⊂ E.

γ

As a special case of curve in Ω, let us consider the curves of the type v = v0

or u = u0 , with u0 , v0 being some constants. Then, their image through f are
two curves f (u, v0 ), f (u0 , v) on Σ called coordinate lines, see again Fig. 7.1.
The tangent vectors to the coordinate lines are, respectively, the vectors
 (t) = f (u(t), v(t)) is
f,u (u, v0 ) and f,v (u0 , v), while the tangent to a curve γ
the vector
du dv
  (t) = f,u
γ + f,v , (7.3)
dt dt
i.e. the tangent vector to any curve on Σ is a linear combination of the
tangent vectors to the coordinate lines. We remark that the tangent vectors
f,u (u, v0 ) and f,v (u0 , v) are necessarily non-null and linearly independent as
a consequence of the assumption on the rank of J and hence of the existence
of N, i.e. of the regularity of Σ. They determine a plane that contains the
tangents to all the curves on Σ passing by p = f (u0 , v0 ) and form a basis
on this plane, called the natural basis. Such a plane is the tangent plane to
Σ in p and is indicated by Tp Σ; this plane is actually the space spanned by
f,u (u, v0 ) and f,v (u0 , v) and is also called the tangent vector space.
 Surfaces in E 143

Let us consider two open subsets Ω1 , Ω2 ⊂ R2 ; a diffeomorphism1 of

class Ck between Ω1 and Ω2 is a bijective map ϑ : Ω1 → Ω2 of class Ck
with also its inverse of class Ck ; the diffeomorphism is smooth if k = ∞.
Let Ω1 , Ω2 be two open subsets of R2 , f : Ω2 → E a surface, and ϑ :
Ω1 → Ω2 a smooth diffeomorphism. Then, the surface F = f ◦ ϑ : Ω1 → E
is a change in parameterization for f . In practice, the function defining the
surface changes, but not Σ, its trace in E. Let (U, V ) be the coordinates in
Ω1 and (u, v) in Ω2 . Then, by the chain rule,

∂u ∂v
F,U = f,u + f,v ,
∂U ∂U
∂u ∂v
F,V = f,u + f,v ,
∂V ∂V
or denoting by Jϑ the Jacobian of ϑ,
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F,U f,u
= [Jϑ ] ,
F,V f,v

whence, making the cross product, one gets immediately

F,U × F,V = det[Jϑ ] f,u × f,v .

This result shows that the regularity of the surface, condition (7.1), the
tangent plane, and the tangent space vector do not depend upon the
parameterization of Σ. From the last equation, we also get

N(U, V ) = sgn(det[Jϑ ]) N(u, v);

we say that the change in parameterization preserves the orientation if

det[Jϑ ] > 0 and that it inverses the parameterization in the opposite case.

7.2 Surfaces of revolution

A surface of revolution is a surface whose trace is obtained by letting a

plane curve, say γ, rotate around an axis, say x3 . To be more specific and
without loss of generality, let γ : G ⊂ R → R2 be a regular curve of the

1 The definition of diffeomorphism, of course, can be given for subsets of Rn , n ≥ 1; here,

we bound the definition to the case of interest.

 144 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

plane x2 = 0, whose parametric equation is

x1 = ϕ(u),
γ(u) : ϕ(u) > 0 ∀u ∈ G. (7.4)
x3 = ψ(u),

Then, the subset Σγ ⊂ E defined by

Σγ := (x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ E|x21 + x22 = ϕ2 (u), x3 = ψ(u), u ∈ G

is the trace of a surface of revolution of the curve γ(u) around the axis x3 .
A general parameterization of such a surface is
⎧
⎨ x1 = ϕ(u) cos v,
f (u, v) : G × (−π, π] → E| x = ϕ(u) sin v, (7.5)
⎩ 2
x3 = ψ(u).
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It is readily checked that this parameterization actually defines a regular

surface:
⎧  ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ ϕ (u) cos v ⎬ ⎨ −ϕ(u) sin v ⎬
f,u = ϕ (u) sin v , f,v = ϕ(u) cos v → f,u × f,v
⎩  ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
ψ (u) 0
⎧ 
⎫
⎨ −ϕ(u)ψ (u) cos v ⎬
= −ϕ(u)ψ  (u) sin v
⎩ ⎭
ϕ(u)ϕ (u)

so that

|f,u × f,v | = ϕ2 (u)(ϕ2 (u) + ψ 2 (u))  = 0∀u ∈ G

for being γ(u) a regular curve, i.e. with γ  (u)  =o ∀u ∈ G. A meridian is

a curve in E intersection of the trace of f , Σγ , with a plane containing the
axis x3 ; the equation of a meridian is obtained fixing the value of v, say
v = v0 :
⎧
⎨ x1 = ϕ(u) cos v0 ,
x = ϕ(u) sin v0 ,
⎩ 2
x3 = ψ(u).

A parallel is a curve in E intersection of Σγ with a plane orthogonal to x3 ;

the equation of a parallel, which is a circle with center on the axis x3 , is
 Surfaces in E 145

Figure 7.2: Surfaces of revolution: (from left) sphere, catenoid, pseudo-sphere, and
hyperbolic hyperboloid.

obtained by fixing the value of u, say u = u0 :

⎧
⎨ x1 = ϕ(u0 ) cos v,
x = ϕ(u0 ) sin v,
⎩ 2
x3 = ψ(u0 ),
or also,
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x21 + x22 = ϕ(u0 )2 ,

x3 = ψ(u0 );
the radius of the circle is ϕ(u0 ). A loxodrome or rhumb line is a curve on Σγ
crossing all the meridians at the same angle.2 Some important examples of
surfaces of revolution are:
• the sphere:
⎧
 π π ⎨ x1 = cos u cos v,
f (u, v) : − , × (−π, π] → E| x2 = cos u sin v,
2 2 ⎩
x3 = sin v;
• the catenoid:
⎧
⎨ x1 = cosh u cos v,
f (u, v) : [−a, a] × (−π, π] → E| x = cosh u sin v,
⎩ 2
x3 = u;
• the pseudo-sphere:
⎧
⎨ x1 = sin u cos v,
⎪
f (u, v) : [0, a] × (−π, π] → E| x2 = sin u sin v,  (7.6)
⎩ x3 = cos u + ln tan u ;
⎪
2
• the hyperbolic hyperboloid:
⎧
⎨ x1 = cos u − v sin u,
f (u, v) : [−a, a] × (−π, π] → E| x = sin u + v cos u,
⎩ 2
x3 = v.

2 This concept is important for marine and aerial navigation.

 146 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

7.3 Ruled surfaces

A ruled surface (also named a scroll) is a surface with the property that
through every one of its points, there is a straight line that lies on the
surface. A ruled surface can be seen as the set of points swept by a moving
straight line. We say that a surface is doubly ruled if through every one of
its points, there are two distinct straight lines that lie on the surface.
Any ruled surface can be represented by a parameterization of the form

f (u, v) = γ(u) + vλ(u), (7.7)

where γ(u) is a regular smooth curve, the directrix, and λ(u) is a smooth
curve. Fixing u = u0 gives a generator line f (u0 , v) of the surface; the
vectors λ(u)  =o describe the directions of the generators. Some important
examples of ruled surfaces are:
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• Cones: For these surfaces, all the straight lines pass through a point,
the apex of the cone, choosing the apex as the origin, then it must be
λ(u) = kγ(u), k ∈ R →

f (u, v) = vγ(u);

• Cylinders: A ruled surface is a cylinder ⇐⇒ λ(u) = const. In this case,

it is always possible to choose λ(u) ∈ S and γ(u) a planar curve lying
in a plane orthogonal to λ(u); in fact, it is sufficient to choose the curve
γ ∗ (u) = (I − λ(u) ⊗ λ(u))γ(u);
• Helicoids: A surface generated by rotating and simultaneously displacing
a curve, the profile curve, along an axis is a helicoid. Any point of the
profile curve is the starting point of a circular helix. Generally, we get a
helicoid if

γ(u) = (0, 0, ϕ(u)), λ(u) = (cos u, sin u, 0), ϕ(u) : R → R;

• Möbius strip: It is a ruled surface with

γ(u) = (cos 2u, sin 2u, 0), λ(u) = (cos u cos 2u, cos u sin 2u, sin u).

7.4 First fundamental form of a surface

Let us consider two vectors of Tp Σ, say w1 , w2 ; we want to calculate their

scalar product in terms of their components in the natural basis {f,u , f,v }
 Surfaces in E 147

Figure 7.3: Ruled surfaces: (from left) elliptical cone, elliptical cylinder, helicoid, and
Möbius strip.

of Tp Σ. If w1 = a1 f,u + b1 f,v and w2 = a2 f,u + b2 f,v , then

2 2
w1 · w2 = a1 a2 f,u + (a1 b2 + a2 b1 )f,u · f,v + b1 b2 f,v ,

which can be rewritten in the form

I(w1 , w2 ) = w1 · gw2 ,
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where3
 
f ·f f ·f
g = ,u ,u ,u ,v
f,v · f,u f,v · f,v

is precisely the metric tensor g of Σ, cf. Eq. (6.6). In fact, f,u and f,v are
the tangent vectors to the coordinate lines on Σ, i.e. they coincide with the
vectors gk s.
I(w1 , w2 ) is the first fundamental form (or simply the first form) of
f (u, v). If w1 = w2 = w = af,u + bf,v , then

I(w) = w2 = a2 f,u
2
+ 2abf,u · f,v + b2 f,v
2
.

By the same definition of scalar product, I(w1 , w2 ) is a positive definite,

bilinear, symmetric form ∀w ∈ Tp Σ.
Through I(·, ·), we can calculate some important quantities regarding
the geometry of Σ:

• Metric on Σ: ∀ds ∈ Σ,

ds2 = ds · ds = I(ds),

3 Often, in texts on differential geometry, tensor g is indicated as

 
E F
g= ,
F G

where E := f,u · f,u , F := f,u · f,v , G := f,v · f,v .

 148 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

so if

ds = f,u du + f,v dv,

then

ds2 = f,u
2
du2 + 2f,u · f,v du dv + f,v
2
dv 2 . (7.8)

• Length  of a curve γ : [t1 , t2 ] ⊂ R → Σ: We know, from Eq. (4.4), that

the length of a curve is the integral of the tangent vector:
 t2  t2 
= |γ  (t)|dt = γ  (t) · γ  (t)dt
t1 t1

and hence, see Eq. (7.3), if we call w = (u , v  ) the tangent vector to γ,
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expressed by its components in the natural basis,

 t2 
= u2 f,u
2 + 2u v  f · f + v 2 f 2 dt
,u ,v ,v
t1
 t2 
= (u , v  ) · g (u , v  )dt
t1
t2 
= I(w)dt. (7.9)
t1

• Angle θ formed by two vectors w1 , w2 ∈ Tp Σ:

w1 · w2 I(w1 , w2 )
cos θ = =   .
|w1 ||w2 | I(w1 ) I(w2 )

• Area of a small surface on Σ: Let f,u du and f,v dv be two small vectors
on Σ, forming together the angle θ that are the transformed through4
f : Ω → Σ, of two small orthogonal vectors du, dv ∈ Ω; then, the area dA
of the parallelogram determined by them is

dA = |f,u du × f,v dv| = |f,u × f,v |du dv = f,u 2 f 2 sin2 θdu dv
,v
 
= f,u 2 f 2 (1 − cos2 θ)du dv = 2 f 2 − f 2 f 2 cos2 θdu dv
f,u
,v ,v ,u ,v
 
= f,u 2 f 2 − (f · f )2 du dv = det gdu dv.
,v ,u ,v

4 Forthe sake of conciseness, from now on, we indicate a surface as the function f : Ω → Σ,
with f = f (u, v), (u, v) ∈ Ω ⊂ R2 and Σ ⊂ E.
 Surfaces in E 149

√
The term det g is hence the dilatation factor of the areas; recalling
Eq. (6.4), we see that the previous expression has a sense ∀f (u, v), i.e.
for any parameterization of the surface.

7.5 Second fundamental form of a surface

Let f : Ω → Σ be a regular surface, {f,u , f,v } the natural basis for Tp Σ, and
N ∈ S the normal to Σ defined as in (7.2). We call the map of Gauss of Σ
the map ϕΣ : Σ → S that associates to each p ∈ Σ its N : ϕΣ (p) = N(p).
To each subset σ ⊂ Σ, the map of Gauss associates hence a subset σS ⊂ S,
Fig. 7.4 (e.g. the Gauss map of a plane is just a point on S).
We want to study how N(p) varies at the varying of p on Σ. The idea
is that the change of N(p) on Σ is related to the curvature of the surface.5
For this purpose, we calculate the change in N per unit length of a curve
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γ(s) ∈ Σ, i.e. we study how N varies along any curve of Σ per unit of length
of the curve itself; that is why we parameterize the curve with its arc length
s.6 Let N = Ni (u, v)ei ; then, if τ ∈ S is the tangent to the curve,
 
dN dNi (u(s), v(s)) ∂Ni du ∂Ni dv
= ei = + ei
ds ds ∂u ds ∂v ds
dN
= ∇Ni · τ ei = (ei ⊗ ∇Ni )τ = (∇N) τ = .
dτ

x3 x3

(p)
N(p)
p S
N(p)
o x2 S o x2

x1 x1
Figure 7.4: The map of Gauss.

5 Forcurves, the curvature is linked to the change in τ , but for surfaces this should not
be meaningful, as τ is not unique ∀p ∈ Σ while N is.
6 Actually, it is also possible to introduce the following concepts more generally for

any parameterization of the curve; anyway, for the sake of simplicity, we just use the
parameter s in the following.
 150 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

The change in N is hence related to the directional derivative of N along

the tangent τ to γ(s), which is a linear operator on Tp Σ. Moreover, as
N ∈ S, then, cf. Eq. (4.1),
N · N,u = N · N,v = 0 ⇒ N,u , N,v ∈ Tp Σ.
We then call the Weingarten operator LW : Tp Σ → Tp Σ the opposite of the
directional derivative of N:
dN
LW (τ ) := − .
dτ
Hence,
LW (f,u ) = −N,u , LW (f,v ) = −N,v . (7.10)
Because LW is linear, then there exists a tensor X on Tp Σ such that
LW (v) = Xv ∀v ∈ Tp Σ.
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(7.11)
For any two vectors w1 , w2 ∈ Tp Σ, we define the second fundamental form
of a surface, denoted by II(w1 , w2 ), the bilinear form
II(w1 , w2 ) := I(LW (w1 ), w2 ).

Theorem 43 (Symmetry of the second fundamental form).

∀w1 , w2 ∈ Tp Σ, II(w1 , w2 ) = II(w2 , w1 ).

Proof. Because I and LW are linear, it is sufficient to prove the thesis for
the natural basis {f,u , f,v } of Tp Σ, and by the symmetry of I, it is sufficient
to prove that
I(LW (f,u ), f,v ) = I(f,u , LW (f,v )),
i.e. that
I(−N,u , f,v ) = I(f,u , −N,v )
and in the end that
N,u · f,v = f,u · N,v .
For this purpose, we recall that
N · f,u = 0 = N · f,v .
So, differentiating the first equation by v and the second one by u, we get
N,v · f,u = −N · f,uv = N,u · f,v . (7.12)

 Surfaces in E 151

The second fundamental form defines a quadratic, bilinear symmetric form:

II(w1 , w2 ) = I(LW (w1 ), w2 ) = I(w1 , LW (w2 ))
= I(w1 , Xw2 ) = w1 · gXw2 = w1 · Bw2 ,
where
B := gX. (7.13)
7
In the natural basis {f,u , f,v } of Tp Σ, by Eq. (7.12), it is
Bij = II(f,i , f,j ) = I(LW (f,i ), f,j ) = −N,i · f,j = N · f,ij ; (7.14)
tensor X can then be calculated by Eq. (7.13):
X = g−1 B. (7.15)
By Eq. (7.14), because f,ij = f,ji or simply because II(·, ·) is symmetric,
we get that
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B = B .

7.6 Curvatures of a surface

Let f : Ω → Σ be a regular surface and γ(s) : G ⊂ R → Σ be a regular curve

on Σ parameterized with the arc length s. We call the curvature vector of
γ(s) the vector κ(s), defined as
κ(s) := c(s)ν(s) = γ  (s),
where ν(s) is the principal normal to γ(s). By Eq. (4.11), it is also
κ(s) = γ  (s).
Then, we call the normal curvature κN (s) of γ(s) the projection of κ(s)
onto N(s), the normal to Σ:
κN (s) := κ(s) · N(s) = c(s) ν(s) · N(s) = γ  (s) · N(s).

Theorem 44. The normal curvature κN (s) of γ(s) ∈ Σ depends uniquely

on τ (s):
κN (s) = τ (s) · Bτ (s) = II(τ (s), τ (s)). (7.16)

7 In many texts on differential geometry, the following symbols are used:

L = f,uu · N = −f,u · N,u ,
M = f,uv · N = −f,u · N,v ,
N = f,vv · N = −f,v · N,v .
 152 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof.
γ(s) = γ(u(s), v(s)) → τ (s) = γ  (s) = f,u u + f,v v  ;
therefore, τ = (u , v  ) in the natural basis and
κ(s) = γ  (s) = f,u u + f,v v  + f,uu u2 + 2f,uv u v  + f,vv v 2 ,
and finally, by Eqs. (7.2) and (7.14),
κN (s) = γ  (s) · N(s) = B11 u2 + 2B12 u v  + B22 v 2 = τ · Bτ
= II(τ , τ ).

Now, if s = s(t) is a change in parameter for γ, then
γ  (t) = |γ  (t)|τ (t),
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so by the linearity of II(·, ·), we get

II(γ  (t), γ  (t)) = |γ  (t)|2 II(τ (t), τ (t)) = |γ  (t)|2 κN (t)
and finally,
II(γ  (t), γ  (t))
κN (t) = .
I(γ  (t), γ  (t))
To each point p ∈ Σ, it corresponds uniquely (in the assumption of
regularity of the surface f : Ω → Σ) to a tangent plane and a tangent
space vector Tp Σ. In p, there are infinite tangent vectors to Σ, all of them
belonging to Tp Σ. We can associate a curvature to each direction t ∈ Tp Σ,
i.e. to each tangent direction, in the following way: Let us consider the
bundle H of planes whose support is the straight line through p and parallel
to N. Then, any plane H ∈ H is a normal plane to Σ in p; each normal
plane is uniquely determined by a tangent direction t, and the (planar)
curve γN t := H ∩ Σ is called a normal section of Σ. If ν and N are,
respectively, the principal normal to γN t and the normal to Σ in p, then
ν = ±N
for each normal section. We have, in this way, defined a function that to
each tangent direction, t ∈ Tp Σ associates the normal curvature κN of the
normal section γN t :
II(t, t)
κN : S ∩ Tp Σ → R| κN (t) = .
I(t, t)
By the bilinearity of the second fundamental form, κN (t) = κN (−t).
 Surfaces in E 153

A point p ∈ Σ is said to be a umbilical point if κN (t) = const. ∀t, it is a

planar point if κN (t) = 0 ∀t. In all the other points, κN takes a minimum
and a maximum value on distinct directions t ∈ Tp Σ.
Because B = B , by the spectral theorem, there exists an orthonormal
basis {u1 , u2 } of Tp Σ such that
B = βj uj ⊗ uj ,
with βj the eigenvalues of B. In such a basis, by Eq. (7.13), we get
II(ui , ui ) ui · Bui ui · gXui
κN (ui ) = = = , i = 1, 2.
I(ui , ui ) ui · gui ui · gui
Then, because {u1 , u2 } is an orthonormal basis, g = I and
κN (ui ) = ui · Xui , i = 1, 2,
i.e. X and B share the same eigenvectors. Moreover, cf. Section 2.8, we
know that the two directions u1 and u2 are the directions whereupon
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the quadratic form in the previous equation gets its maximum, κ1 , and
minimum, κ2 , values, and in such a basis,
X = κi ui ⊗ ui .
We call κ1 and κ2 the principal curvatures of Σ in p and u1 , u2 the principal
directions of Σ in p, see Fig. 7.5.
We call the Gaussian curvature K the product of the principal
curvatures:
K := κ1 κ2 = det X.
By Eq. (7.15) and the theorem of Binet, it is also
det B
K= . (7.17)
det g
We define the mean curvature H of a surface8 f : Ω → Σ at a point p ∈ Σ
the mean of the principal curvatures at p:
κ1 + κ 2 1
H := = trX.
2 2
Of course, a change in parameterization of a surface can change the
orientation, cf. Section 7.1, which induces a change in N into its opposite
one and, by consequence, in the sign of the second fundamental form and
hence in the normal and principal curvatures. These last are hence defined
to less the sign, and the mean curvature too, while the principal directions,
umbilicality, flatness, and Gaussian curvature are intrinsic to Σ, i.e. they
do not depend on its parameterization.

8 The
concept of mean curvature of a surface was introduced for the first time by Sophie
Germain in her celebrated work on the elasticity of plates (1815).
 154 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

x3

N
u2 Tp

p u1

o x2
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Figure 7.5: Principal curvatures.

7.7 The theorem of Rodrigues

The principal directions of curvature have a property that is specified by

the following.

Theorem 45 (Theorem of Rodrigues). Let f (u, v) be a surface of class

at least C2 and λ = (λu , λv ) ∈ Tp Σ, then

dN(p)
= −κλ λ (7.18)
dλ
if and only if λ is a principal direction; κλ is the principal curvature relative
to λ.

Proof. Let λ be a principal direction of Tp Σ. Because N ∈ S, then

dN
· N = 0; (7.19)
dλ
moreover,
⎡ ⎤⎧ ⎫
0 0 0 ⎨ λu ⎬
dN
= ∇N λ = ⎣ 0 0 0 ⎦ λv = N,u λu + N,v λv . (7.20)
dλ ⎩ ⎭
N,u N,v 1 0
 Surfaces in E 155

Let μ = (μu , μv ) be the other principal direction of Tp Σ, then

λ · μ = 0 → I(λ, μ) = II(λ, μ) = 0.
Moreover,
dN
· μ = −II(λ, μ) = 0,
dλ
which implies, together with Eq. (7.19),
dN
= αλ. (7.21)
dλ
Therefore,
dN
· λ = −II(λ) = αλ · λ = αI(λ)
dλ
and finally,
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II(λ)
α=− = −κλ .
I(λ)
Contrarily, if we assume Eq. (7.21), as before, we get α = −κλ , and to end,
we just need to prove that λ is a principal direction. From Eqs. (7.20) and
(7.21), we get
λu N,u + λv N,v = −κλ (λu f,u + λv f,v ).
Projecting this equation onto f,u and f,v gives the two equations
Lλu + M λv = κλ (Eλu + F λv ),
(7.22)
M λu + N λv = κλ (Eλu + Gλv ),
with the symbols E, F, G, L, M , and N defined in Notes 3 and 7 and used
here for the sake of conciseness. Let w = (wu , wv ) ∈ Tp Σ and consider the
function
ζ(w, κλ ) = II(w) − κλ I(w);
it is easy to check that ζ, ∂w
∂ζ
u
∂ζ
and ∂w v
take zero value for w = λ0 , with
λ0 the eigenvector of the principal direction relative to κλ , which gives the
system of equations
⎧
⎪ II(λ0 ) − κλ I(λ0 ) = 0,
⎪ ∂II(λ0 )
⎨ ∂II(λ0 )
− κλ = 0,
⎪ ∂wu ∂wu
⎪ ∂II(λ0 ) ∂II(λ0 )
⎩ − κλ = 0.
∂wv ∂wv
 156 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Developing the derivatives and making some standard operations,

Eq. (7.22) is found again, which proves that λ is necessarily the principal
direction relative to κλ . 
This theorems hence states that the derivative of N along a given direction
is a vector parallel to such a direction only when this is a principal direction
of curvature.

7.8 Classification of the points of a surface

Let f : Ω → Σ be a regular surface and p ∈ Σ a non-planar point. Then, we

say that
• p is an elliptic point if K(p) > 0;
• p is a hyperbolic point if K(p) < 0;
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• p is a parabolic point if K(p) = 0.

We remark that, by Eq. (7.17), because det g > 0, Eq. (6.4), the value of
det B is sufficient to determine the type of a point on Σ.

Theorem 46. If p is an elliptical point of σ, then there exists a neighbor-

hood U ∈ Σ of p such that all the points q ∈ U belong to the same half-space
into which E is divided by the tangent plane Tp Σ.

Proof. For the sake of simplicity and without loss of generality, we can
always chose a parameterization f (u, v) of the surface such that p = f (0, 0).
Expanding f (u, v) into a Taylor’s series around (0, 0), we get the position
of a point q = f (u, v) ∈ Σ in the neighborhood of p (though not indicated
for the sake of brevity, all the derivatives are intended to be calculated at
(0, 0)):
1
f (u, v) = f,u u + f,v v + (f,uu u2 + 2f,uv uv + f,vv v 2 ) + o(u2 + v 2 ).
2
The distance with sign d(q) of q ∈ Σ from the tangent plane Tp Σ is the
projection onto N, i.e.:
1
d(q) = (f,uu u2 + 2f,uv uv + f,vv v 2 ) · N + o(u2 + v 2 )
2
1
= (B11 u2 + 2B12 uv + B22 v 2 ) + o(u2 + v 2 ),
2
or, equivalently, once we set w = uf,u + vf,v ,
d(q) = II(w, w) + o(u2 + v 2 ). (7.23)
 Surfaces in E 157

If p is an elliptic point, the principal curvatures have the same sign because
K = κ1 κ2 > 0 ⇒ the sign of II(w, w) does not depend upon w, i.e. upon
the tangent vector. As a consequence, the sign of d(q) does not change with
w ⇒ ∀q ∈ U, Σ is on the same side of the tangent plane Tp Σ. 

Theorem 47. If p is a hyperbolic point of Σ, then for each neighborhood

U ∈ Σ of p, there are points q ∈ U that are in half-spaces on the opposite
sides with respect to the tangent plane Tp Σ.

Proof. The proof is identical to that of the previous theorem until Eq.
(7.23); now, if p is a hyperbolic point, the principal curvatures have opposite
signs, and by consequence d(q) changes of sign at least two times in any
neighborhood U of p ⇒, there are points q ∈ U lying in half-spaces on the
opposite sides with respect to the tangent plane Tp Σ. 
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In a parabolic point, there are different possibilities: Σ is on one side of the

space with respect to Tp Σ, as for the case of a cylinder, or not, like, for
example, for the points (0, v) of the surface, see Fig. 7.6,
⎧
⎨ x = (u3 + 2) cos v,
y = (u3 + 2) sin v,
⎩
z = −u.

This is also the case for planar points: e.g., the point (0, 0, 0) is a planar
point for both the surfaces

z = x4 + y 4 , z = x3 − 3xy 2 ,

but in the first case, all of the surface is on one side of the tangent plane,
while it is on both sides for the second case (the so-called monkey’s saddle),
see Fig. 7.7.

Figure 7.6: Elliptic (left), hyperbolic (center), and parabolic (last two on the right)
points.
 158 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 7.7: Two different planar points.

7.9 Developable surfaces

Let us now consider a ruled surface f : Ω → Σ as in Eq. (7.7); then,

f,u = γ  + vλ , f,v = λ, f,u × f,v = γ  × λ + vλ × λ, f,uv = λ , f,vv = o.
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2
Consequently, B22 = N · f,vv = 0 ⇒ det B = −B12 : The points of Σ are
hyperbolic or parabolic. Namely, the parabolic points are those with
f,u × f,v
B12 = N · f,uv = · f,uv = 0
|f,u × f,v |
⇐⇒ (γ  × λ + vλ × λ) · λ = γ  × λ · λ = 0.
We remark that the ruled surfaces made of parabolic points have null
Gaussian curvature everywhere: K = 0.
Let us consider ruled surfaces having only parabolic points; then, we
have the following.

Theorem 48. For a ruled surface f (u, v) = γ(u) + vλ(u), the following
are equivalents:
(i) γ  , λ, λ are linearly dependent;
(ii) N,v = o.

Proof. Condition (ii) implies that N does not change along a straight line
lying on the ruled surface ⇒ f,u × f,v = γ  × λ + vλ × λ does not depend on
v as well. This is possible ⇐⇒ γ  × λ and λ × λ are linearly dependent,
i.e. ⇐⇒
(γ  × λ) × (λ × λ) = (λ × λ · γ  )λ − (λ × λ · λ)γ  = (λ × λ · γ  )λ = o,
i.e. when λ, λ , and γ  are coplanar, which proves the thesis. 
We say that a ruled surface is developable if one of the conditions of
Theorem 48 is satisfied. A developable surface is a surface that can be
 Surfaces in E 159

Figure 7.8: Ruled surface of the tangents to a cylindrical helix.

flattened without distortion onto a plane, i.e. it can be bent without

stretching or shearing or vice versa and it can be obtained by transforming
a plane. We remark that only ruled surfaces are developable (but not all
the ruled surfaces are developable).
It is immediate to check that a cylinder or a cone are developable sur-
faces, while the helicoid, hyperbolic hyperboloid, or hyperbolic paraboloid
are not. Another classical example of developable surface is the ruled surface
of the tangents to a curve: Let γ(t) : G ⊂ R → E be a regular smooth curve;
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then, the ruled surface of the tangents to γ is the surface f (u, v) : G×R → Σ
defined by

f (u, v) = γ(u) + vγ  (u).

Figure 7.8 shows the ruled surface of the tangents to a cylindrical helix.

7.10 Points of a surface of revolution

Let us now consider a surface of revolution f : Ω → Σγ as in Eq. (7.5) and,

for the sake of simplicity, let u be the natural parameter of the curve in Eq.
(7.4) generating the surface. Then,

ϕ2 (u) + ψ 2 (u) = 1, ψ  (u)ϕ (u) − ψ  (u)ϕ (u) = c(u).

We can then calculate:

• the vectors of the natural basis:

⎧  ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ ϕ (u) cos v ⎬ ⎨ −ϕ(u) sin v ⎬
f,u = ϕ (u) sin v , f,v = ϕ(u) cos v ;
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
ψ  (u) 0
• the normal to the surface
⎧ 
⎫
⎨ −ψ (u) cos v ⎬
N = −ψ  (u) sin v ;
⎩ ⎭
ϕ (u)
 160 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

• the metric tensor (i.e. the first fundamental form):

 
1 0
g= ;
0 ϕ2 (u)
• the second derivatives of f :
⎧  ⎫ ⎧ 
⎫
⎨ ϕ (u) cos v ⎬ ⎨ −ϕ (u) sin v ⎬
f,uu = ϕ (u) sin v , f,uv = ϕ (u) cos v ,
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
ψ  (u) 0
⎧ ⎫
⎨ −ϕ(u) cos v ⎬
f,vv = −ϕ(u) sin v ;
⎩ ⎭
0
• tensor B (i.e. the second fundamental form):
 
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c(u) 0
B= ;
0 ϕ(u)ψ  (u)
• the Gaussian curvature K:
det B c(u)ψ  (u)
K = det X = = .
det g ϕ(u)
Therefore, the points of Σγ where c(u) and ψ  (u) have the same sign are
elliptic, but hyperbolic otherwise.9 Parabolic points correspond to inflexion
points of γ(u) if c(u) = 0 or to points with horizontal tangent to γ(u) if
ψ  (u) = 0.
As an example, let us consider the case of the pseudo-sphere, Eq. (7.6).
Then,
u
ϕ(u) = sin u, ψ(u) = cos u + ln tan .
2
Some simple calculations give
1 | tan u|
ψ  (u) = − sin u + , c(u) = − ;
sin u | cot u|
as a consequence,
c(u)ψ  (u) (− sin u + sin1 u )| tan u|
K= =− = −1.
ϕ(u) sin u| cot u|
Finally, K = const. = −1, which is the reason for the name of this surface.

9 Recall that in a revolution surface, ϕ(u) > 0 ∀u.

 Surfaces in E 161

7.11 Lines of curvature, conjugated directions, asymptotic

directions

A line of curvature is a curve on a surface with the property of being

tangent, at each point, to a principal direction.

Theorem 49. The lines of curvature of a surface are the solutions to the
differential equation
X21 u2 + (X22 − X11 )u v  − X12 v 2 = 0.

Proof. A curve γ(t) : G ⊂ R → Σ ⊂ E is a line of curvature ⇐⇒

γ  (t) = f,u u + f,v v 
is an eigenvector of X(t) ∀t, i.e. ⇐⇒ there exists a function μ(t) such that
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X(t)γ  (t) = μ(t)γ  (t) ∀t.

In the natural basis of Tp Σ, this condition reads as (we omit the dependence
upon t for the sake of conciseness)
 
X11 X12 u u
 =μ ,
X21 X22 v v
which is satisfied ⇐⇒ the two vectors at the left- and right-hand sides are
proportional, i.e. ⇐⇒
 
X11 u + X12 v  u
det = 0 → X21 u2 + (X22 − X11 )u v  − X12 v 2 = 0.
X21 u + X22 v  v 

As a corollary, if X is diagonal, then the coordinate lines are, at the same
time, principal directions and lines of curvature.

Theorem 50. A curve γ(u) : G ⊂ R → Σ is a line of curvature ⇐⇒ the

surface
f (u, v) = γ(u) + vN(γ(u)), (7.24)
is developable.

Proof. From Theorem 48, f (u, v) is developable ⇐⇒ γ  · N × N = 0.

Because γ  and N ∈ Tp Σ, which is orthogonal to N, the surface will be
developable ⇐⇒ γ  × N = o. Moreover, writing
γ  = f,u u + f,v v  ,
 162 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

it is
N = N,u u + N,v v  = −LW (γ  ),
hence f (u, v) is developable ⇐⇒ LW (γ  ) × γ  = o, i.e. when γ  is a
principal direction. 
The curve in Eq. (7.24) is called the ruled surface of the normals.
Let p be a non-planar point of a surface f : Ω → Σ and v1 , v2 two
vectors of Tp Σ. We say that v1 and v2 are conjugated if II(v1 , v2 ) = 0.
The directions corresponding to v1 and v2 are called conjugated directions.
Hence, the principal directions at a point p are conjugated; if p is an
umbilical point, any two orthogonal directions are conjugated.
The direction of a vector v ∈ Tp Σ is said to be asymptotic if it is
autoconjugated, i.e. if II(v, v) = 0. An asymptotic direction is hence a
direction where the normal curvature is null. In a hyperbolic point, there
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are two asymptotic directions; in a parabolic point only one; and in an

elliptic point, there are no asymptotic directions. An asymptotic line is
a curve on a surface with the property of being tangent at every point
to an asymptotic direction. The asymptotic lines are the solution to the
differential equation
II(γ  , γ  ) = 0 → B11 u2 + 2B12 u v  + B22 v 2 = 0;
in particular, if B11 = B22 = 0 and B  =O, then the coordinate lines are
asymptotic lines. Asymptotic lines exist only in the regions where K ≤ 0.

7.12 Dupin’s conical curves

The conical curves of Dupin are the real curves in Tp Σ whose equations are
II(v, v) = ±1, v ∈ S.
Let {u1 , u2 } be the basis of the principal directions. Using polar coordi-
nates, we can write
v = ρeρ , eρ = cos θu1 + sin θu2 .
Therefore,
II(v, v) = ρ2 II(eρ , eρ ) = ρ2 κN (eρ ),
and the conicals’ equations are
ρ2 (κ1 cos2 θ + κ2 sin2 θ) = ±1.
 Surfaces in E 163

Figure 7.9: The conical curves of Dupin (from left): elliptic, hyperbolic, and parabolic
points.

With the Cartesian coordinates ξ = ρ cos θ, η = ρ sin θ, we get

κ1 ξ 2 + κ2 η 2 = ±1.
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The type of conical curves depend upon the kind of point on Σ:

• Elliptical points: The principal curvatures have the same sign → one of
the conical curves is an ellipse, the other one the null set (actually, it is
not a real curve).
• Hyperbolic points: The principal curves have opposite signs → the conical
curves are conjugated hyperbolae whose asymptotes coincide with the
asymptotic directions.
• Parabolic points: At least one of the principal curvatures is null → one
of the conical curves degenerates into couple of parallel straight lines,
corresponding to the asymptotic direction, the other one is the null set.

The three possible cases are depicted in Fig. 7.9.

7.13 The Gauss–Weingarten equations

Let f : Ω → Σ be a surface; for any point p ∈ Σ, consider the basis

{f,u , f,v , N}, also called the Gauss’ basis. It is the equivalent of the Frenet–
Serret basis for the surfaces. We want to calculate the derivatives of the
vectors of this basis, i.e. we want to obtain, for the surfaces, something
equivalent to the Frenet–Serret equations.
Generally, N ∈ S and N·f,u = N·f,v = 0, but f,u , f,v ∈ / S and f,u ·f,v = 0.
In other words, we are dealing with a case of non-orthogonal (curvilinear)
coordinates. So, if w is the coordinate along the normal N, let us call, for
 164 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

the sake of convenience,

u = z 1, v = z 2

while, for the vectors,

f,u = f,1 = g1 , f,v = f,2 = g2 ,

with g1 , g2 exactly the g vectors of the coordinate lines on Σ. Then,

∂gi 1 ∂(gi · gi ) 1 ∂gii

· gi = = ,
∂z j 2 ∂z j 2 ∂z j i, j = 1, 2,
∂gi ∂(gi · gj ) ∂gi ∂gij 1 ∂gii
· gj = − j · gi = − ,
∂z i ∂z i ∂z ∂z i 2 ∂z j
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where for the last equation, we have used the identity

∂gj ∂gi
= f,ji = f,ij = j , i, j = 1, 2.
∂z i ∂z

Using Eq. (6.26), it can be proved that it is also10

∂gi
· gh = Γhij i, j, h = 1, 2.
∂z j
Moreover, by Eq. (7.14),

∂gi
· N = f,ij · N = Bij i, j = 1, 2,
∂z j
and by Eqs. (7.10) and (7.11),

∂N
· gj = −LW (gi ) · gj = −Xgi · gj = −Xji , i, j = 1, 2,
∂z i
while, because N ∈ S, then from Eq. (4.1),

∂N
·N=0 ∀i = 1, 2.
∂z i

10 The proof is rather cumbersome and it is omitted here; in many texts on differential

geometry, the Christoffel symbols are just introduced in this way, as the projection of
the derivatives of vectors gi s onto the same vectors, i.e. as the coefficients of the Gauss
equations.
 Surfaces in E 165

Finally, the decomposition of the derivatives of the vectors of the basis

{f,u , f,v , N} onto these same vectors gives the equations
∂gi
= Γhij gh + Bij N,
∂z j i, j = 1, 2; (7.25)
∂N
= −X g
ij i ,
∂z j
these are the Gauss–Weingarten equations (the first one is due to Gauss
and the second to Weingarten).
Now, if we make the scalar product of the Gauss equations by g1 and
g2 , i.e.
∂gi
gk · = gk · (Γhij gh + Bij N), i, j, k = 1, 2,
∂z j
we get the following three systems of equations:
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⎧
⎪ Γ1 g + Γ2 g = 1 ∂g11 ,
⎨ 11 11 11 21
2 ∂z 1
(7.26)
⎪ 1
⎩ Γ11 g12 + Γ211 g22 = ∂g12 − 1 ∂g11 ;
∂z 1 2 ∂z 2
⎧
⎪ Γ1 g + Γ2 g = 1 ∂g11 ,
⎨ 12 11 12 21
2 ∂z 2
(7.27)
⎪ 1
⎩ Γ12 g12 + Γ212 g22 = 1 ∂g22 ;
2 ∂z 1
⎧
⎪ Γ1 g + Γ2 g = ∂g12 − 1 ∂g22 ,
⎨ 22 11 22 21
∂z 2 2 ∂z 1
(7.28)
⎪ 1
⎩ Γ22 g12 + Γ222 g22 = 1 ∂g22 .
2 ∂z 2
The determinant of each one of these systems is simply det g  = 0 → it is
possible to express the Christoffel symbols as functions of the gij s and of
their derivatives, i.e. as functions of the first fundamental form (the metric
tensor).

7.14 The theorema egregium

The following theorem is a fundamental result due to Gauss:

Theorem 51 (Theorema egregium). The Gaussian curvature K of a

surface f (u, v) : Ω → Σ depends only upon the first fundamental form of f .
 166 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Proof. Let us write the identity

∂ 2 g1 ∂ 2 g1
1 2
=
∂z ∂z ∂z 2 ∂z 1
using the Gauss equations (7.25)1 :
Γ111 g1,2 + Γ211 g2,2 + B11 N,2 + Γ111,2 g1 + Γ211,2 g2 + B11,2 N
= Γ112 g1,1 + Γ212 g1,2 + B12 N,1 + Γ112,1 g1 + Γ212,1 g2 + B12,1 N,
∂(·)
where, for the sake of shortness, we have abridged by (·),j . Then, we
∂z j
use again Eqs. (7.25) to express g1,1 , g1,2 , g2,2 , N,1 and N,2 ; after doing
that and equating to 0, the coefficient of g2 , we get
B11 X22 − B12 X21 = Γ111 Γ212 + Γ211 Γ222 + Γ211,2 − Γ112 Γ211 − Γ212 Γ212 − Γ212,1 ;
by Eq. (7.13), we get that
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B11 = g11 X11 + g12 X21 , B12 = g11 X12 + g12 X22 ,
which on injecting into the previous equation gives
g11 det X = Γ111 Γ212 + Γ211 Γ222 + Γ211,2 − Γ112 Γ211 − Γ212 Γ212 − Γ212,1 . (7.29)
Setting equal to zero the coefficient of g1 , a similar expression can also be
obtained for g12 . Because g is positive definite, it is not possible that g11 =
g12 = 0. So, remembering that K = det X and the result of the previous
section, we see that it is possible to express K through the coefficients of
the first fundamental form and of its derivatives. 

7.15 Minimal surfaces

A minimal surface is a surface f : Ω → Σ having the mean curvature

H = 0 ∀p ∈ Σ. Typical minimal surfaces are the catenoid and the helicoid.11
Other minimal surfaces are the Enneper’s surface:
⎧
⎪ u3
x1 u − + uv 2 ,
⎨ 3
v3
⎪ x2 = v − + u2 v,
3
⎩
x3 = u2 − v 2 ,
and the Costa’s and Schwarz’s surfaces, see Fig. 7.10.

11 Minimal surfaces have some interesting applications in the mechanics of tensile

structures composed of prestressed membranes. Also, it can be shown that a soap film,
when not bounding a closed region, takes the form of a minimal surface.
 Surfaces in E 167

Figure 7.10: The minimal surfaces of (from left) Enneper, Costa, and Schwarz.

Theorem 52. The non-planar points of a minimal surface are hyperbolic.

Proof. This is a direct consequence of the definition of mean curvature H

and of hyperbolic points: H = 0 ⇐⇒ κ1 κ2 < 0. 

Let f : Ω → Σ be a regular surface and Q a subset of Ω with its boundary

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∂Q a closed regular curve in Ω; then, R = f (Q) ⊂ Σ is a simple region of Σ.

Let h : Q → R be a smooth function. Then, we call the normal variation
of R the map ϕ : Q × (−, ) → E defined by

ϕ(u, v, t) = f (u, v) + t h(u, v)N(u, v).

For each fixed t, ϕ(u, v, t) is a surface with

ϕ,u (u, v, t) = f,u (u, v) + t h(u, v)N,u (u, v) + t h,u (u, v)N(u, v),
ϕ,v (u, v, t) = f,v (u, v) + t h(u, v)N,v (u, v) + t h,v (u, v)N(u, v).
If the first fundamental form of f is represented by the metric tensor g,
we look for the metric tensor gt representing the first fundamental form of
ϕ(u, v, t) ∀t:

g11
t
= ϕ,u · ϕ,u = g11 + 2t h f,u · N,u + t2 (h2 N,u
2
+ h2,u ),
g12
t
= ϕ,u · ϕ,v = g12 + t h(f,u · N,v + f,v · N,u ) + t2 (h2 N,u · N,v + h,u h,v ),
g22
t
= ϕ,v · ϕ,v = g22 + 2t h f,v · N,v + t2 (h2 N,v
2
+ h2,v ),

and by Eq. (7.14),

g11
t
= g11 − 2t h B11 + t2 (h2 N2,u + h2,u ),
g12
t
= g12 − 2t h B12 + t2 (h2 N,u · N,v + hu h,v ),
g22
t
= g22 − 2t h B22 + t2 (h2 N2,v + h2,v ),
whence

det gt = det g − 2th(g11 B22 − 2g12 B12 + g22 B11 ) + o(t2 ).

 168 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Then, by Eq. (7.15), we get easily that

g11 B22 − 2g12 B12 + g22 B11 = 2H det g

so that

det gt = det g(1 − 4thH) + o(t2 ).

We can now calculate the area A(t) of the simple region Rt = ϕ(u, v, t)
corresponding to the subset Q:
 
At = det g(1 − 4thH) + o(t2 )dudv.
Q

For   1, At is differentiable, and its derivative at t = 0 is

 t 
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dA 
=− 2hH det gdudv.
dt t=0 Q
 
dAt
Theorem 53. A surface f : Ω → Σ is minimal ⇐⇒ = 0 ∀R ⊂
dt t=0
Σ and for each normal variation.

Proof. If f is minimal, the condition is clearly satisfied (H = 0).

Conversely, let us suppose that ∃p = f (u, v) ∈ Σ|H(p)  = 0. Consider
r1 , r2 ∈ R such that |H|  = 0 in the circle D2 with center p and radius r2
and |H| > 12 |H(p)| in the circle D1 with center p and radius r1 . Then, we
chose a smooth function h(u, v) such that (i) h = H inside D1 , (ii) hH > 0
inside D2 , and (iii) h = 0 outside D2 . For the normal variation defined by
such h(u, v), we have
 t  
dA  
− = 2hH det gdu dv ≥ 2H 2 det gdu dv
dt t=0 D2 D1

H(p)2  H(p)2
≥ det gdu dv = A(f (D1 ))
D 2 2
 1 t
dA
⇒ < 0,
dt t=0

which contradicts the hypothesis. 

The meaning of this theorem justifies the name of minimal surfaces: These
are the surfaces that have the minimal area among all the surfaces that
share the same boundary.
 Surfaces in E 169

7.16 Geodesics

Let f : Ω → Σ be a surface and γ(t) : G ⊂ R → Σ a curve on Σ. A vector

function w(t) : G → Tγ(t) Σ is called a vector field12 along γ(t). We call the
covariant derivative of w(t) along γ(t) the vector field Dγ w(t) : G → V
defined as13
dw
Dγ w := (I − N ⊗ N) ,
dt
i.e. the projection of the derivative of w onto Tγ(t) Σ. It is always possible
to decompose w(t) into its components in the natural basis {f,u , f,v }:
w(t) = w1 (t)f,u (γ(t)) + w2 (t)f,v (γ(t)).
Differentiating, we get (a prime here denotes the derivative with respect
to t)
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w = w1 f,u + w1 (f,uu u + f,uv v  ) + w2 f,v + w2 (f,uv u + f,vv v  ),

and using the Gauss equations, Eq. (7.25)1 , we obtain (summation of the
dummy indexes, where u1 stands for u and u2 for v)
w = f,k wk + (Γkij f,k + Bij N)wi uj , i, j, k = 1, 2
so that the projection onto Tγ(t) Σ, i.e. Dγ w(t), is
Dγ w = (wk + Γkij wi uj )f,k . (7.30)
A parallel vector field w along γ is a vector field having Dγ w = o ∀t. A
regular curve γ is a geodesic of Σ if the vector field γ  of the vectors tangent
to γ is parallel along γ.

Theorem 54. A curve γ is a geodesic of Σ ⇐⇒ ν × N = o.

Proof. If γ is a geodesic, then the derivative of its tangent γ  has a

component only along N, i.e. γ  × N = o ⇒ γ  · γ  = 0. The principal
normal to γ, ν, is orthogonal to γ  ⇒ ν × N = o. Vice versa, if ν × N = o,
then γ  is orthogonal to γ  ⇒ Dγ γ  = o, i.e. γ is a geodesic. 

Theorem 55. If γ is a geodesic, then |γ  | = const.

d(γ  · γ  )
Proof. In a geodesic, γ  · γ  = 0 ⇒ = 0 ⇒ |γ  | = const. 
dt
12 More precisely, w(t) is a curve of vectors; however, it is normally called a vector field

along a curve.
13 The operator that gives the projection of w onto a vector orthogonal to N ∈ S, i.e.

onto Tγ(t) Σ, is I − N ⊗ N, cf. Exercise 2, Chapter 2.

 170 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

This result shows that in a geodesic, the parameter is always the natural
parameter s. Let γ(s) be a curve on Σ parameterized by the arc length s.
We call the geodesic curvature of γ(s) the function
κg := Dγ τ · (N × τ ),
where τ = γ  ∈ S is the tangent vector to γ. Because N × τ ∈ S lies in
Tγ Σ, the component of τ  orthogonal to Tγ Σ gives a null contribution to
κg , so we can also write
κg = τ  · (N × τ ).

Theorem 56. A regular curve γ(s) is a geodesic ⇐⇒ κg = 0 ∀s.

Proof. If γ is a geodesic, clearly κg = 0. Vice versa, if κg = 0, then τ , τ 

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and N are linearly dependent, i.e. coplanar. Because τ  · τ = N · τ = 0 ⇒

τ  × N = o ⇒ by Theorem 54, γ is a geodesic. 
Let us now write Eq. (7.30) in the particular case of w = γ  , i.e. w1 =
u , w2 = v  :
Dγ w = (uk + Γkij ui uj )f,k ;
therefore, the geodesics are the solutions to the system of differential
equations

u + Γ111 u2 + 2Γ112 u v  + Γ122 v 2 = 0,
(7.31)
v  + Γ211 u2 + 2Γ212 u v  + Γ222 v 2 = 0.
It can be shown that ∀p ∈ Σ and ∀w(p) ∈ Tp Σ, the geodesic is unique.
Let p be a point of a regular surface f : Ω → Σ and α(v) : G ⊂ R → Σ
a smooth regular curve on Σ, with v being the natural parameter and such
that p = α(0). Consider the geodesic γv passing through q = α(v) and such
that γv (0) = N(α(v)) × τ (v), with τ (v) the (unit) tangent vector to α(v).
Consider the map f (u, v) : Ω → Σ defined by posing f (u, v) = γv (u); this
is a surface whose coordinates (u, v) are called semigeodesic coordinates.
Let us see the form that the first fundamental form (i.e. the metric tensor
g), the Christoffel symbols, and the Gaussian curvature take in semigeodesic
coordinates. Curves f (u, v0 ) = γv0 (u) are geodesics, and u is hence their
natural parameter. Therefore, f,u ∈ S ⇒ g11 = 1. Then, fuu (u, v0 ) is the
derivative of the tangent vector to a geodesic f (u, v0 ) = γv0 (u) ⇒ fuu (u, v0 )
does not have a component along the tangent, hence Eq. ⇒ Γ111 = Γ211 =
0. Then, by Eq. (7.26)1 , we get g12,u = 0 ⇒ g12 does not depend upon
 Surfaces in E 171

u ⇒ g12 (u, v) = g12 (0, v) ∀u. Moreover, let θ be the angle between the
curve α, i.e. between the coordinate line f (0, v), whose tangent vector is
f,v (0, v), and the geodesic γv (u), whose tangent vector at (0, v) is γv (u).
π
Then, θ = because γv (0) = N(α(v))×τ (v). As a consequence, g12 (0, v) =
2
0 ⇒ g12 (u, v) = 0 ∀(u, v) ∈ Ω. Finally, setting g22 = g,
 
1 0
g= ,
0 g

with g > 0 because g is positive definite. Through systems (7.26)–(7.28),

we obtain
g,u g,u g,v
Γ112 = 0, Γ212 = , Γ122 = − , Γ222 = ,
2g 2 2g
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and using Eq. (7.29), we obtain

2
g,uu g,u
K = det X = − + 2.
2g 4g

Given two points p1 , p2 ∈ Σ, we define the distance d(p1 , p2 ) as the infimum

of the lengths of the curves on Σ joining the two points. We end with an
important characterization of geodesics.

Theorem 57. Geodesics are the curves of minimal distance between two
points of a surface.

Proof. Let γ : G ⊂ R → Σ be a geodesic on Σ, parameterized with

the arc length, and α a smooth regular curve through p and orthogonal
to γ. Through α, we set up a system of semigeodesic coordinates in a
neighborhood U of p. With an opportune parameterization α(t) in such
coordinates, we can get p = f (0, 0) and γ described by the equation v = 0.
Let q ∈ U be a point in γ, and consider a regular curve connecting p with
q. The length (p, q) of such a curve is
 q   q
(p, q) = 2 2
u + g v dt ≥ u dt = |uq − up |.
p p

Observing that p = (up , 0), q = (uq , 0), we remark that |uq − up | is exactly
the length of γ between p and q because γ is parameterized with its arc
length. 
 172 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

There is another, direct and beautiful, way to show that geodesics are the
shortest path lines: the use of the method of calculus of variations.14
The length (p, q) of a curve γ(t) ∈ Σ between two points p and q is given
by the functional (7.9); it depends upon the first fundamental form, i.e.
1 2
upon the metric tensor g on σ. For the sake of conciseness, let w = (w,t , w,t )
be the tangent vector to the curve γ(w1 , w2 ) ∈ Σ. Then,
 q  q
√
(p, q) = I(w)dt = w · gwdt.
p p

The curve γ(t) that minimizes (p, q) is the solution to the Euler–Lagrange
equations
d ∂F ∂F d ∂F ∂F
− =o → − = 0, k = 1, 2,
dt ∂w,t ∂w dt ∂w,t
k ∂wk
where
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√ i wj .
F (w, w,t , t) = w · gw = gij w,t ,t

It is more direct, and equivalent, to minimize J 2 (t), i.e. to write the Euler–
Lagrange equations for
Φ(w, w,t , t) := F 2 (w, w,t , t) = gij w,t
i j
w,t .
Therefore,
∂Φ j
= 2gjk w,t ,
∂w,t
k

∂Φ ∂ghj h j
= w w , j, h, k = 1, 2.
∂w k ∂wk ,t ,t
   
d ∂Φ j dgjk j j ∂gjk l j
= 2 g jk w + w = 2 g jk w + w w ,
dt ∂w,t
k ,tt
dt ,t ,tt
∂wl ,t ,t

14 The reader is referred to texts on the calculus of variations for an insight into this
matter, cf. the suggested texts. Here, we just recall the fundamental fact to be used in
the proof concerning geodesics: Let
 b
J(t) = F (x, x , t)dt
a

be a functional to be minimized by a proper choice of the function x(t) (in the case of
the geodesics, J = (p, q)); then, such a minimizing function can be found as a solution
to the Euler–Lagrange equations
d ∂F ∂F
− = o.
dt ∂x ∂x
 Surfaces in E 173

The Euler–Lagrange equations are hence

j ∂gjk h j 1 ∂ghj h j
gjk w,tt + w,t w,t − w w = 0, j, h, k = 1, 2,
∂w h 2 ∂wk ,t ,t
which can be rewritten as
 
j 1 ∂gjk ∂ghk ∂ghj h j
gjk w,tt + + − w,t w,t = 0, j, h, k = 1, 2.
2 ∂wh ∂wj ∂wk

Multiplying by g lk , we get
 
j 1 ∂gjk ∂ghk ∂ghj h j
g lk gjk w,tt + g lk + − w,t w,t = 0, j, h, k, l = 1, 2,
2 ∂wh ∂wj ∂wk

and finally, because

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g lk gjk = δlj

and by Eq. (6.26), we get

j h
w,tt
l
+ Γljh w,t w,t , j, h, l = 1, 2.

These are the differential equations whose solution is the curve of minimal
length between two points of Σ; comparing these equations with those of a
geodesic of Σ, Eq. (7.31), we see that they are the same: The geodesics of
a surface are hence the curves of minimal distance on the surface.
The Christoffel symbols of a plane are all null; as a consequence, the
geodesic lines of a plane are straight lines. In fact, only such lines have a
constant derivative.
Through systems (7.26)—(7.28), we can calculate the Christoffel sym-
bols for a revolution surface, Eq. (7.5), which are all null excepted

2 ϕ
Γ12 = , Γ122 = −ϕ ϕ ,
ϕ

so the system of differential equations (7.31) becomes

⎧
  2
⎪
⎨ u − ϕ ϕ v = 0,
⎪ ϕ (7.32)
⎩ v  + 2 u v  = 0.
ϕ

It is direct to check that the meridians (u = t, v = v0 ) are geodesic lines,

while the parallels (u = u0 , v = t) are geodesics ⇐⇒ ϕ (u0 ) = 0.
 174 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

7.17 The Gauss–Codazzi compatibility conditions

Let us consider a surface Σ whose points are determined by the vector

function r : Ω ⊂ R2 → Σ ⊂ E, r(α1 , α2 ) = xi (α1 , α2 ) i , with i , i =
1, 2, 3, the vectors of the orthonormal basis of the reference frame R =
{o; 1 , 2 , 3 } and the parameters α1 , α2 chosen in such a way that the
lines α1 = const., α2 = const. are the lines of curvature, i.e. the tangent
at each point to the principal directions of curvature and hence mutually
orthogonal.15 With such a choice, cf. Eq. (7.8),
ds2 = A21 dα21 + A22 dα22 ,
with
 !
dxi dxi
A1 = r2,α1 = ,
dα1 dα1
 !
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dxi dxi
A2 = r2,α2 = ,
dα2 dα2
which are the so-called Lamé’s parameters. We remark that along the lines
of curvatures, i.e. the lines αi = const., i = 1, 2, which in short from now
on, we call the lines αi , it is
ds1 = A1 dα1 ,
ds2 = A2 dα2 ,
and hence,
ds1
λ1 = = A1 e1 ,
dα1
(7.33)
ds2
λ2 = = A2 e2
dα2
are the vectors tangent to the lines of curvature. Let
1 1
e1 = r,α , e2 = r,α , e3 = e1 × e2 (= N); (7.34)
A1 1 A2 2
these three vectors form the orthonormal (local) natural basis e =
{e1 , e2 , e3 }. We always make the choice of α1 , α2 such that e3 is always
directed toward the convex side of Σ if the point is elliptic or parabolic or
toward the side of the centers of negative curvature if the point is hyperbolic.

15 Here, the symbol r is preferred to f , like α to u and α to v, to recall that we

1 2
have made the particular choice of coordinate lines that are lines of curvature. All the
developments could be done in a more general case, but this choice is made to obtain
simpler relations, which preserves anyway the generality.
 Surfaces in E 175

We consider a vector v = v(p), p ∈ Σ,

v = v1 e1 + v2 e2 + v3 e3 ,

and we want to calculate how it transforms when p changes. To this end,

we need to calculate how e1 , e2 , e3 change with α1 , α2 . Let q ∈ Σ be a point
in the neighborhood of p on the line αi , and let us first consider the change
in e3 in passing from p to q. Because p and q belong to the same line αi ,
by the theorem of Rodrigues, we get (no summation on i in the following
equations)

∂e3
= −κi λi , i = 1, 2,
∂λi

i.e. by Eq. (7.33),

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∂e3 Ai
= ei ,
∂αi Ri

with
1
Ri = −
κi

the (principal) radius of curvature along the line αi . The minus sign in the
previous equation is due to the choice made above for orienting e3 = N,
which gives always N = −ν, with ν the principal normal to the line αi .
This result can also be obtained directly, see Fig. 7.11:

de3

e3(p) e3(q)

p q lin
e
i

Ri

o
Figure 7.11: Variation of N = e3 along a line of curvature.
 176 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

e3 (q) = e3 (p) + de3

and in the limit of q → p, de3 tends to be parallel to q − p and

lim (q − p) = λi = Ai ei .
q→p

By the similitude of the triangles, it is evident that

|de3 | |q − p|
= ;
|e3 | Ri
moreover,
∂e3
de3 = dαi ei .
∂αi
Finally, as |e3 | = 1, we get again
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∂e3 Ai
= ei . (7.35)
∂αi Ri
Implicitly, in this last proof, we have used the theorem of Rodrigues because
we have assumed that de3 is parallel to λi , as it is, because line αi is a line
of curvature.
We now move on to determine the changes in e1 and e2 ; for this purpose,
we remark that
∂r,α1 ∂2r ∂ 2r ∂r,α2
= = = ,
∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α1 ∂α1 ∂α2 ∂α1
so by Eq. (7.34), we get
∂(A1 e1 ) ∂(A2 e2 )
= . (7.36)
∂α2 ∂α1
∂ej
Let us study now ∂αi ; as |ej | = 1, j = 1, 2,

∂ej
· ej = 0 ∀i, j = 1, 2. (7.37)
∂αi
Because e1 · e2 = 0,
∂e1 ∂(e1 · e2 ) ∂e2 ∂e2
· e2 = − e1 · = −e1 · .
∂α1 ∂α1 ∂α1 ∂α1
By Eq. (7.36), we get
∂e2 1 ∂(A1 e1 ) 1 ∂A2
= − e2 ,
∂α1 A2 ∂α2 A2 ∂α1
 Surfaces in E 177

which when inserted into the previous equation gives, by Eq. (7.37),
∂e1 1 ∂(A1 e1 ) 1 ∂A2
· e2 = − · e1 + e2 · e1
∂α1 A2 ∂α2 A2 ∂α1
A1 ∂e1 1 ∂A1 1 ∂A1
=− · e1 − e1 · e1 = − .
A2 ∂α2 A2 ∂α2 A2 ∂α2
Then, because e1 · e3 = 0,
∂e1 ∂(e1 · e3 ) ∂e3 ∂e3
· e3 = − e1 · = −e1 · ,
∂α1 ∂α1 ∂α1 ∂α1
and by Eq. (7.35),
∂e3 A1
= e1 ,
∂α1 R1
so finally,
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∂e1 A1
· e3 = − .
∂α1 R1
Again, through Eqs. (7.36) and (7.37), we get
∂e1 1 ∂(A2 e2 ) 1 ∂A1 A2 ∂e2
· e2 = · e2 − e1 · e2 = · e2
∂α2 A1 ∂α1 A1 ∂α2 A1 ∂α1
1 ∂A2 1 ∂A2
+ e2 · e2 =
A1 ∂α1 A1 ∂α1
and also, by Eq. (7.35),
∂e1 ∂(e1 · e3 ) ∂e3 ∂e3 A2
· e3 = − e1 · = −e1 · = − e1 · e2 = 0.
∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α2 R2
The derivatives of e2 can be found in a similar way, and resuming, we have
∂e1 1 ∂A1 A1
=− e2 − e3 ,
∂α1 A2 ∂α2 R1
∂e1 1 ∂A2
= e2 ,
∂α2 A1 ∂α1
∂e2 1 ∂A1
= e1 ,
∂α1 A2 ∂α2
(7.38)
∂e2 1 ∂A2 A2
= − e1 − e3 ,
∂α2 A1 ∂α1 R2
∂e3 A1
= e1 ,
∂α1 R1
∂e3 A2
= e2 .
∂α2 R2
 178 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Passing now to the second-order derivatives, imposing the equality of mixed

derivatives, gives some important differential relations between the Lamé’s
parameters Ai and the radii of curvatures Ri . In fact, from the identity
∂ 2 e3 ∂ 2 e3
=
∂α1 ∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α1
and Eqs. (7.38)5,6 , we get
   
∂ A1 ∂ A2
e1 = e2 ,
∂α2 R1 ∂α1 R2
whence
   
∂ A1 A1 ∂e1 ∂ A2 A2 ∂e2
e1 + = e2 + .
∂α2 R1 R1 ∂α2 ∂α1 R2 R2 ∂α1
Inserting now Eqs. (7.38)2,3 into the last result and rearranging the terms
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gives
       
∂ A1 1 ∂A1 ∂ A2 1 ∂A2
− e1 − − e2 = 0,
∂α2 R1 R2 ∂α2 ∂α1 R2 R1 ∂α1
which to be true needs that the two following conditions be identically
satisfied:
 
∂ A1 1 ∂A1
− = 0,
∂α2 R1 R2 ∂α2
  (7.39)
∂ A2 1 ∂A2
− = 0.
∂α1 R2 R1 ∂α1
The above equations are known as the Codazzi conditions. Let us now
consider the other identity
∂ 2 e1 ∂ 2 e1
= ;
∂α1 ∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α1
again using Eq. (7.38), with some standard operations, this identity can be
transformed to
     
∂ 1 ∂A2 ∂ 1 ∂A1 A1 A2
+ + e2
∂α1 A1 ∂α1 ∂α2 A2 ∂α2 R1 R2
   
∂ A1 1 ∂A1
+ − e3 = 0.
∂α2 R1 R2 ∂α2
Again, for this equation to be identically satisfied, each of the expressions in
square brackets must vanish, which gives two more differential conditions,
 Surfaces in E 179

but of which only the first one is new, as the second one corresponds to
Eq. (7.39)1 . The new condition is hence
   
∂ 1 ∂A2 ∂ 1 ∂A1 A1 A2
+ + = 0, (7.40)
∂α1 A1 ∂α1 ∂α2 A2 ∂α2 R1 R2

which is known as the Gauss condition. The last identity

∂ 2 e2 ∂ 2 e2
=
∂α1 ∂α2 ∂α2 ∂α1

does not add any independent condition, which can be easily checked. The
meaning of the Gauss–Codazzi conditions, Eqs. (7.39) and (7.40), is that
of compatibility conditions: Only when these conditions are satisfied by
functions A1 , A2 , R1 , and R2 , then such functions represent the Lamé’s
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parameters and the principal radii of curvature of a surface, i.e. only

in this case, they define a surface, except for its position in space. The
Gauss–Codazzi conditions are important in establishing the equations of
the classical theory of shells.

7.18 Exercises

1. Prove that a function of the type x3 = f (x1 , x2 ), with f : Ω ⊂ R2 → R

smooth, defines a surface.
2. Show that the catenoid is the rotation surface of a catenary, then find
its Gaussian curvature.
3. Show that the pseudo-sphere is the rotation surface of a tractrice and
explain why the surface has this name (hint: look for its Gaussian
curvature).
4. Prove that the regularity of a cone f (u, v) = vγ(u) is satisfied at each
point except at the apex and at the points on the straight lines tangent
to γ(u).
5. Prove that the hyperbolic hyperboloid is a doubly ruled surface, and
determine the angle θ formed by two straight lines belonging to the two
sets of lines on the surface, see the left panel of Fig. 7.12.
6. Prove that the hyperbolic paraboloid whose Cartesian equation is x3 =
x1 x2 , right panel of Fig. 7.12, is a doubly ruled surface, and determine
the angle θ formed by two straight lines belonging to the two sets of
π
lines on the surface. Where does θ = ?
2
 180 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Figure 7.12: A hyperbolic hyperboloid (left) and a hyperbolic paraboloid (right).

7. Consider the parameterization

f (u, v) = (1 − v)γ(u) + vλ(u),

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with

γ(u) = (cos(u − α), sin(u − α), −1), λ(u) = (cos(u + α), sin(u + α), 1).

Show that:
• for α = 0, one gets a cylinder with equation x21 + x22 = 1;
π
• for α = , one gets a cone with equation x21 + x22 = x23 ;
2
π
• for 0 < α < , one gets a hyperbolic hyperboloid with equation
2
x21 + x22 x23
− = 1.
cos2 α cot2 α
8. Calculate the metric tensor of a sphere of radius R, write its first
fundamental form, and determine the area of the sector of a surface
between the longitudes θ1 and θ2 and the length of the parallel at the
latitude π/4 between these two longitudes.
9. Prove that the surface defined by
 
cos v sin v sinh u
f (u, v) : Ω = R × (−π, π] → E| f (u, v) = , ,
cosh u cosh u cosh u

is a sphere. Then, show that the image of any straight line on Ω is a

loxodromic line on the sphere.
10. Calculate the vectors of the natural basis, the tensors g, B, X, and the
first and second fundamental forms for the catenoid.
 Surfaces in E 181

11. Calculate the same for the helicoid of parametric equation

f (u, v) = γ(u) + vλ(u),
with
γ(u) = (0, 0, u), λ(u) = (cos u, sin u, 0).
12. Show that the catenoid and the helicoid are made of hyperbolic points.
13. Determine the geodesic lines of a circular cylinder.
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 Suggested Texts
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There are many textbooks on tensors, differential geometry, and calculus of

variations. The style, content, and language of such books greatly depend
upon the scientific community the authors belong to: pure or applied
mathematicians, theoretical mechanicians or engineers. It is hence difficult
to suggest some readings in the domain, and ultimately, it is mostly a matter
of personal taste.
This textbook is greatly inspired by some classical methods, style, and
language that are typical in the community of theoretical mechanics; the
following few suggested readings, among several possible others, belong to
such a kind of scientific literature. They are classical textbooks, and though
the list is far from being exhaustive, they constitute a solid basis for the
topics briefly developed in this manuscript, where the objective is to present
mathematics for mechanics.
A good introduction to tensor algebra and analysis, which greatly
inspired the content of this manuscript, are the two introductory chapters
of the classical textbook,
• M. E. Gurtin: An Introduction to Continuum Mechanics. Academic Press,
1981,
and also, in a similar style, the long article,
• P. Podio-Guidugli: A primer in elasticity. Journal of Elasticity, 58: 1–104,
2000.

183
 184 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

A short, effective introduction to tensor algebra and differential geometry

of curves can be found in the following text of exercises on analytical
mechanics:
• P. Biscari, C. Poggi, E. G. Virga: Mechanics Notebook. Liguori Editore,
1999.
A classical textbook on linear algebra that is recommended is
• P. R. Halmos: Finite-Dimensional Vector Spaces. Van Nostrand Reynold,
1958.
In the previous textbooks, tensor algebra in curvilinear coordinates is not
developed; an introduction to this topic, especially intended for physicists
and engineers, can be found in
• W. H. Müller: An Expedition to Continuum Theory. Springer, 2014,
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which has largely influenced Chapter 6.

Two modern and application-oriented textbooks on differential geome-
try of curves and surfaces are
• V. A. Toponogov: Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces – A
Concise Guide. Birkhäuser, 2006 and
• A. Pressley: Elementary Differential Geometry. Springer, 2010.
A short introduction to the differential geometry of surfaces, oriented
toward the mechanics of shells, can be found in the classical book
• V. V. Novozhilov: Thin Shell Theory. Noordhoff LTD., 1964.
For what concerns the calculus of variations, a valid textbook on the
matter (but not only) is
• R. Courant, D. Hilbert: Methods of Mathematical Physics. Interscience
Publishers, 1953.
Two very good and classical textbooks with an introduction to the calculus
of variations for engineers are
• C. Lanczos: The Variational Principles of Mechanics. University of
Toronto Press, 1949 and
• H. L. Langhaar: Energy Methods in Applied Mechanics. Wiley, 1962.
 Solutions to the Exercises
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Chapter 1

1. Suppose o1 = o2 ; then, apply to a point p the definition of vector null

for both of them.
2. Use v + o = v and obtain the scalar product with a vector w.
3. Obtain the norm of v + o = v and use the above result.
4. |u − v| = |u + v| ⇐⇒ |u − v|2 = |u + v|2 ⇒ (u − v) · (u − v) =
(u + v) · (u + v) ⇒ u · v = 0.
5. By linearity, ∀v = vi ei , ψ(v) = vi ψ(ei ); moreover, u · v = ui vi ,
so setting u = ψ(ei )ei , ψ(v) = u · v. Uniqueness: Suppose ∃u1 =
u2 |ψ(v) = u1 · v = u2 · v ⇒ (u1 − u2 ) · v = 0 ∀v ⇐⇒ u1 − u2 = o ⇒
u1 = u2 .
6. Let θu and θv be the angles formed by w with u and v, respectively;
then, w · u = w · v ⇒ uw cos θu = vw cos θv ⇒ cos θu = cos θv , as
u, v ∈ S;
θu = θv ⇒ cos θu = cos θv ⇒ uw cos θu = vw cos θv ⇒ u · w = v · w.
7. (i) Coplanar vectors: Let p be a point of the plane of the vectors ⇒
Mrp · R = 0 because R ∈ to the plane, while Mrp = (pi − p) × vpi
is of course orthogonal to it. Then, let q be a point ∈
/ to the plane
of the vectors → Mrq = Mrp + (p − q) × R ⇒ Mrq · R = Mrp · R +
(p − q) × R · R = R × R · (p − q) = 0.
(ii) Parallel vectors: Let e ∈ S| vpi = αi e ∀i = 1, . . . , n ⇒ R =
n
i=1 αi e ⇒ n n
∀o ∈ E, Mro = i=1 (pi − o) × αi e ⇒ Mro · R = ( i=1 αi (pi − o)) ×

e · ( ni=1 αi )e = 0.

185
 186 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

8. It is a direct consequence of the theorem of reduction of systems of

applied vectors for the case R = o, with o being any point.
9. If R is applied to p, then the system can be reduced to Rp plus
n
Mrp = i=1 (p − p) × vip = o.
10. (i) By the theorem of reduction, if R is applied to o, the system is
reduced to Ro and Mro ⇒ to only R if Mro = o.
(ii) Because for coplanar or parallel vectors ∀o ∈ A, Mro = o, then the
system is equivalent to R applied to any point of A.
11. If a system is equilibrated, then by definition, any equivalent system is
equilibrated. Conversely, if there exists another system equilibrated and
equivalent, then also the system in object is equilibrated by the relation
of equivalence, and this is true for any other equivalent system, which
hence must be equilibrated.
12. Let vp , vq = −(vp )q be two opposite vectors applied to p and q,
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respectively ⇒ R = vp + vq = o; moreover, Mrp = (q − p) ⊗ vq ⇒ ∀o  =

p, Mro = Mrp + (p − o) × R = Mrp ⇒ Mro = o ∀o ∈ E ⇐⇒ q − p = o.
13. If all the vectors pass through a point p, then the system is equivalent
to Rp (Exercise 9), and if R = o, then the system is equilibrated.

Chapter 2

1. ∀u, L, Lu = L(u + o) = Lu + Lo ⇐⇒ Lo = o.
2. u ∈ S → (u ⊗ u)v = v cos θu; (I − u ⊗ u)v = v − v cos θu, which is
orthogonal to u : (I − u ⊗ u)v · u = v · u − v · u u · u = o, as u ∈ S.
3. (i) ∀a, b ∈ V, a·(αA)b = (αA) a·b, and by the linearity of the scalar
product, a · (αA)b = αa · Ab = αA a · b ⇒ (αA) = αA .
(ii) ∀a, b ∈ V, a · (A + B)b = (A + B) a · b, and by linearity of the
scalar product and of tensors, a · (A + B)b = a · Ab + a · Bb =
A a · b + B a · b = (A + B )a · b ⇒ (A + B) = A + B .
(iii) ∀u, v ∈ V u · (a ⊗ b)Av = u · (a ⊗ b)(Av) = (a ⊗ b) u · (Av) =
(b⊗a)u·(Av) = A (b⊗a)u·v = A (a·u b)·v = a·u A b·v =
((A b) ⊗ a)u · v = u · ((A b) ⊗ a) v = u · (a ⊗ A b)v.
4. By linearity and the definition of O : ∀u ∈ V, (L + O)u = Lu + Ou =
Lu ⇐⇒ L + O = L.
5. (i) trI = tr(δij ei ⊗ ej ) = δij tr(ei ⊗ ej ) = δij ei · ej = δij δij = δii = 3.
(ii) trL = tr(L + O) = trL + trO ⇐⇒ trO = 0.
6. tr(AB) = tr((Aij ei ⊗ ej )(Bhk eh ⊗ ek )) = Aij Bhk tr((ei ⊗ ej )(eh ⊗ ek ))
= Aij Bhk ej · eh tr(ei ⊗ ek ) = Aij Bhk ej · eh ei cot ek = Aij Bhk δjh δik =
 Solutions to the Exercises 187

Aij Bji ; in a similar way, we prove that tr(BA) = Bij Aji ; because i, j
are dummy indexes, Aij Bji = Bij Aji ⇒ tr(AB) = tr(BA).
7. (i) L ·M = tr((L ) M ) = tr(LM ) = tr(M L) = M·L = L·M.
(ii) LM · N = tr((LM) N) = tr(M L N) = M · L N;
|
= tr(N(LM) ) = tr((NM )L )
= tr(L (NM ))
= L · NM .
8. (i) (a⊗ b)(c⊗ d) = ((a⊗ b)(c⊗ d))ij ei ⊗ ej = (a⊗ b)ik (c⊗ d)kj ei ⊗ ej
= ai bk ck dj ei ⊗ ej = b · c ai dj ei ⊗ ej = b · c a ⊗ d.
(ii) A(a⊗b) = A(a⊗b)ij ei ⊗ej = Aik (a⊗b)kj ei ⊗ej = Aik ak bj ei ⊗ej
= (Aa)i bj ei ⊗ ej = (Aa) ⊗ b.
9. L · u ⊗ u = tr(L (u ⊗ u)) = tr((L u) ⊗ u) = L u · u = u · Lu.
10. A = A , B = −B ⇒ A · B = A · B = A · (−B) = −A · B ⇐⇒
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A · B = 0.
11. (i) A = A ⇒ A · L = A · (Ls + La ) = A · Ls + A · La = A · Ls .
(ii) B = −B ⇒ B · L = B · (Ls + La ) = B · Ls + B · La = B · La .
12. (i) A · (BCD) = tr(A BCD) = tr((B A) CD) = (B A) · (CD).
(ii) A · (BCD) = (BCD) · A = tr((BCD) A) = tr(A(D C B )) =
tr((AD )(C B )) = tr((C B )(AD )) = tr((BC) (AD )) =
BC · AD = AD · BC.
13. L ∈ Sym(V) ⇒ L · W = 0, as already proved. Now, if L · W =
0 ∀W ∈ Skw(V), suppose L ∈ / Sym(V) ⇒ L = Ls + La ⇒ L · W =
L · W + L · W = L · W = 0; if in Skw(V), we chose W = La , we
s a a

get W · La = La · La = 0 ⇐⇒ La = O ⇒ L ∈ Sym(V).
14. I2 = 12 (tr2 L − trL2 ) = 12 (Lii Ljj − Lij Lji )
= L11 L22 + ⎡ L11 L33 + L22 L ⎧− L⎫12 L
⎤33 ⎧21 −⎫L13 L31 − L23 L32 .
0 −a3 a2 ⎨ b1 ⎬ ⎨ c1 ⎬
15. a×b·c = ⎣ a3 0 −a1 ⎦ b2 · c2 = a2 b3 c1 −a3 b2 c1 +a3 b1 c2 −
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
−a2 a1 0 b3 c3
⎡ ⎤
0 −a3 a2
a1 b3 c2 + a1 b2 c3 − a2 b1 c3 = det ⎣ a3 0 −a1 ⎦ .
−a2 a1 0
16. Let L1 = L2 be two distinct inverse tensors of L; then, L1 L = I =
L2 L ⇒ L1 L − L2 L = O ⇒ (L1 − L2 )L = O ∀L ⇐⇒ L1 − L2 = O ⇒
L1 = L2 .
17. (a ⊗ b)ij = ai bj ; it is then sufficient to write the matrix representing
(a ⊗ b) and to compute its determinant.
 188 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

18. (αL)−1 (αL) = α(αL)−1 L = I ⇒ (αL)−1 L = α1 I ⇒ (αL)−1 LL−1 =

1
α IL
−1
⇒ (αL)−1 = α1 L−1 .
19. |W | = W · W = tr(W W) = −tr(WW) = tr(I − w ⊗ w) = 3 − 1 =
2

2 ⇒ WW = − 12 |W2 |(I − w ⊗ w).

20. Let w1 = (a1 , b1 , c1 ), w2 = (a2 , b2 c2 ); then, form W1 , W2 and compute
the two scalar products.
21. u × v = o ⇐⇒ v = ku, k ∈ R. So, u × v = o ⇒ u ⊗ v = ku ⊗ u ∈
Sym(V). Conversely, if u⊗v ∈ Sym(V), then ∀w, w·v u = (u⊗v)w =
(v ⊗ u)w = w · u v ⇒ v = w·v w·u u ⇒ u × v = o.
22. L = L ⇒ (RLR ) = RL R = RLR ; moreover, u · Lu > 0 ∀u
⇒ u · (RLR )u = (R u) · L(R u) > 0.
 3
23. (i) det(Lsph − λI) = det 13 trLI − λsph I = 13 trLI − λsph I det I
3
= 13 trLI − λsph I = 0 ⇒ λsph = 13 trL, i = 1, 2, 3.
i 
(ii) (Lsph
− λi I)v = o ∀i = 1, 2, 3 ⇒ Lsph − 13 trLI v = o ⇒
sph
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(Lsph − Lsph )v = o ⇒ Ov = o, which is true ∀v.  

24. det(Ldev − λdev I) = det(L  − Ldev − λdev I) = det L − 13 trL+ λdev I =
det L − λsph + λdev I = 0 ⇒ λ = λsph + λdev is an eigenvalue of
L ⇒ λdev = λ − λsph .

Chapter 3

1. ∀L ∈ Lin(V), (ei ⊗ ej )  (ek ⊗ el )L = (ei ⊗ ej )L(ek ⊗ el ) = (ei ⊗

ej )L(el ⊗ ek ) = (ei ⊗ ej )((Lel ) ⊗ ek ) = ej · (Lel )ei ⊗ ek = Ljl ei ⊗ ek ;
moreover (ei ⊗ ek ⊗ ej ⊗ el )L = (ei ⊗ ek ) ⊗ (ej ⊗ el )L = ((ej ⊗ el ) ·
L)(ei ⊗ ek ) = ((ej ⊗ el ) · (Lpq ep ⊗ eq ))(ei ⊗ ek ) = Lpq δjp δlq (ei ⊗ ek ) =
Ljl ei ⊗ ek ⇒ (ei ⊗ ej )  (ek ⊗ el ) = ei ⊗ ek ⊗ ej ⊗ el .
2. ∀L, M ∈ Lin(V), L · (AB)M = A L · BM = B A L · M ⇒ (AB) =
B A .
3. ∀C ∈ Lin(V), (A ⊗ BL)C = (A ⊗ B)LC = B · LCA = L B · CA =
(A ⊗ L B)C.
4. ∀L ∈ Lin(V), ((A  B)(C  D))L = A  BCLD = ACLD B =
(AC)  (D B ) L = (AC)  (BD)L.
5. Let A = Aijkl ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ek )  (ej ⊗ el ) and
B = Bpqrs ep ⊗ eq ⊗ er ⊗ es = Bpqrs (ep ⊗ er )  (eq ⊗ es ).
Then, AB = Aijkl Bpqrs ((ei ⊗ ek )  (ej ⊗ el ))((ep ⊗ er )  (eq ⊗
es )) = Aijkl Bpqrs ((ei ⊗ ek )(ep ⊗ er ))  ((ej ⊗ el )(eq ⊗ es )) =
Aijkl Bpqrs δkp δlq(ei ⊗ er )  (ej ⊗ es ) = Aijkl Bklrs (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ er ⊗ es ).
 Solutions to the Exercises 189

6. ∀L ∈ Lin(V), (A ⊗ B)(C  D)L = (A ⊗ B)CLD = B · (CLD )A =

BD·(CL)A = C BD·L A = (C D )B·L A = A⊗((C D )B)L.
7. ∀L ∈ Lin(V), (A  B)(C ⊗ D)L = D · L(A  B)C = (D · L)ACB =
ACB (D · L) = ((A  B)C)(D · L) = (((A  B)C) ⊗ D)L.
8. (P ⊗ P)ijhk = Pij Phk = (p ⊗ p)ij (p ⊗ p)hk = pi pj ph pk
= pi ph pj pk = (p ⊗ p)ih (p ⊗ p)jk = Pih Pjk = (P  P)ijhk .
9. (i) IA = (I  I)A = (I  I)Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el ) = Aijkl ((I  I)(ei ⊗
ej )) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el ) = Aijkl (I(ei ⊗ ej )I ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el ) = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗
ek ⊗ el ) = A.
(ii) AI = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ (ek ⊗ el )(I  I) = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ) ⊗ ((I  I)ek ⊗
el ) = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej )⊗ (I(ek ⊗ el ))I ) = Aijkl (ei ⊗ ej ⊗ ek ⊗ el ) = A.
10. (A ⊗ B) · (C ⊗ D) = tr4 ((A ⊗ B) (C ⊗ D)) = tr4 ((B ⊗ A)(C ⊗ D))
= tr4 ((B⊗A)C)⊗D = tr4 (A·C B⊗D) = A·C tr4 (B⊗D) = A·C B·D.
I I
11. |I| ⊗ |I| = √I3 ⊗ √I3 = 13 I ⊗ I = Ssph .
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12. ∀L ∈ Lin(V), L = Lsph + Ldev and Lsph = 13 trL I →, just one number
is sufficient to determine Lsph ⇒ dim(Sph(V)) = 1. Then, Ldev =
L − Lsph is determined by five numbers: dim(Dev(V)) = dim(Lin(V) −
Sph(V)) = 6 − 1 = 5.  
13. (i) Ssph Ssph = 13 I ⊗ I 13 I ⊗ I = 19 (I ⊗ I) = 19 I · I I ⊗ I = 13 I ⊗ I =
Ssph .
(ii) Ddev Ddev = (Is − Ssph )(Is − Ssph ) = Is − 2Ssph + Ssph Ssph =
Is − Ssph = Ddev .
(iii) Ssph Ddev = Ssph (Is − Ssph ) = Ssph − Ssph Ssph = Ssph − Ssph = O.
sym
14. (i) Sijkl = (ei ⊗ ej ) · Ssym (ek ⊗ el ) = (ei ⊗ ej ) · ek ⊗el +e 2
l ⊗ek

1
= 2 (δik δjl + δil δjk ), Wijkl = (ei ⊗ ej ) · W (ek ⊗ el )
skw skw

= (ei ⊗ ej ) · ek ⊗el −e
2
l ⊗ek
= 12 (δik δjl − δil δjk ),
sym
→ Sijkl + Wijkl skw
= δik δjl = Iijkl ⇒ Ssym + Wdev = I.
sym trp
(ii) Sijkl − Wijkl = δil δjk = Tijkl
skw
⇒ Ssym − Wdev = Ttrp .
15. (i) Ssph · Ssph = 3 I ⊗ I · 3 I ⊗ I = 19 tr4 ((I ⊗ I) (I ⊗ I))
1 1

= 19 tr4 ((I ⊗ I)(I ⊗ I)) = 19 tr4 ((I ⊗ I)I) ⊗ I = 19 tr4 (I · I I ⊗ I)

= 13 tr4 (I ⊗ I) = 13 I · I = 1.
(ii) Ddev · Ddev = (Is − Ssph ) · (Is − Ssph ) =  I ·δIih δ−
s s
2Is · Ssph + Ssph · Ssph
1 jk +δik δjh 1
= 4 δih δjk + δik δjh δih δjk + δik δjh −2 2 3 δij δhk + 1
1 1
= 4 δih δih δjk δjk +2δik δjh δih δjk +δik δik δjh δjh − 3 δij δhk δih δjk +
δij δhk δik δjh +1. Now, one should check that δih δih = δjk δjk
= δik δik = δjh δjh = δik δjh δih δjk = δij δhk δih δjk = δij δhk δik δjh
= 3 ⇒ Ddev · Ddev = 5.
 190 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

(iii) Ssph · Ddev = Ssph · (Is − Ssph ) = Is · Ssph − Ssph · Ssph =

δih δjk +δik δjh 1 1
2  3 δij δhk − 1 = 6 δih δjk δij δhk + δik δjh δij δhk −1 =
1
6 3 + 3 −1 = 0.
16. SR = I − 2n ⊗ n → SR = (I − 2n ⊗ n)  (I − 2n ⊗ n)
= I  I − 2(n ⊗ n  I + I  n ⊗ n + 4n ⊗ n  n ⊗ n)
= I − 2(n ⊗ n  ei ⊗ ei + ei ⊗ ei  n ⊗ n + 4n ⊗ n ⊗ n ⊗ n)
= I − 2(n ⊗ ei ⊗ n ⊗ ei + ei ⊗ n ⊗ ei ⊗ n + 4n ⊗ n ⊗ n ⊗ n).
By components, (SR )ijkl = (I − 2n ⊗ n)ik (I − 2n ⊗ n)jl
= (δik − 2ni nk )(δjl − 2nj nl ) = δik δjl − 2(δik nj nl + δjl ni nk )+ 4ni nj nk nl .
17. (i) R0 = 0: This is the case of the so-called R0 -orthotropy.
(ii) R1 = 0: This is the case of the square symmetry (all the
components depend upon 4θ).
(iii) Φ0 − Φ1 = k π4 , k ∈ {0, 1}: This is the case of the two ordinary
orthotropies.
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(iv) R0 = R1 = 0: This is the condition for isotropy. Nothing depends

upon θ ⇒ all the directions are equivalent and thus, at the same
time, the axes of elastic symmetry.

Chapter 4

1. (i) (u(t) + v(t)) − (u(t0 ) + v(t0 ) = (t − t0 )(u + v) + o(t − t0 ), and also,
u(t) − u(t0 ) + v(t) − v(t0 ) = (t − t0 )u + (t − t0 )v + o(t − t0 ) ⇒
(u + v) = u + v .
The proof that (L + M) = L + M and that (L + M) = L + M
can be done in a similar way.
(ii) We indicate, in short, α(t) = α, v(t) = v, α(t0 ) = α0 , v(t0 ) =
v0 , α (t0 ) = α0 , v (t0 ) = v0 → αv−α0 v0 = (αv)0 (t−t0 )+o(t−t0 );
moreover, α = α0 + α0 (t − t0 ) + o(t − t0 ), v = v0 + v0 (t − t0 )
+ o(t − t0 ) ⇒ αv − α0 v0 = (α0 + α0 (t − t0 ) + o(t − t0 ))(v0 + v0 (t −
t0 ) + o(t − t0 )) − α0 v0 = α0 v0 (t − t0 ) + v0 o(t − t0 ) + α0 v0 (t − t0 )
+ α0 v0 (t − t0 )2 + v0 (t − t0 )o(t − t0 ) + α0 o(t − t0 ) + α0 (t − t0 )o(t − t0 )
+ o(t − t0 )2 = (α0 v0 + α0 v0 )(t − t0 ) + o(t − t0 ), so by comparison,
(αv) = α v + αv .
By the same technique, one can easily prove the differentiation
rule for all the product-like quantities: (u · v) , (u × v) , (u ⊗ v) ,
(αL) , (Lv) , (LM) , (L · M) , (L ⊗ M) , (L  M) , (αL) ,
(LL) , (LM) , (L · M) .
2. The proof is the same for all the cases; we just write that for v(t):
Using the two properties shown in the previous exercise, we get
 Solutions to the Exercises 191

v(t) = vi (t)ei ⇒ v (t) = (vi (t)ei ) = vi (t)ei + vi (t)ei = vi (t)ei because
ei does not depend on t.
2
3. (i) p(θ) = (aθ cos θ, aθ sin θ) → c = 2+θ2 3 .
√ √ a(1+θ ) 2
(ii)  = a2 (θ 1 + θ2 + ln(θ + 1 + θ2 )).
(iii) Let pi , pi+1 be two consecutive intersection points of the spiral (i
denotes the order of the intersection point) with a straight line
passing through the origin and inclined at θ; their distances from
the origin are ri = a(θ+2πi), ri+1 = a(θ+2π(i+1)) ⇒ |pi+1 −pi | =
ri+1 − ri = 2πa that does not depend upon θ.
4. (i) r = a ebθ ⇒ r = 0 ⇐⇒ θ → +∞, for b < 0, −∞ for b > 0.
1
(ii) p(θ) = (a ebθ cos θ, a ebθ sin θ) → c = a ebθ √ .
√ 1+b2
(iii)  = b 1 + b2 e .
a bθ

(iv) With the same meaning as in the previous exercise, |pi+1 − pi | =

ri+1 − ri = a(e2πb − 1)eb(θ+2πi) , i.e. the distance depends upon
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the order of the intersection: ri+1 ri = e2πb , which is a geometric

progression.
1 ab ebθ
(v) τ = √1+b 2
(b cos θ − sin θ, b sin θ + cos θ) ⇒ (p − o) · τ = √ 1+b2
⇒
(p−o)·τ
cos ϕ = |p−o||τ | =
√ b
1+b2
⇒ ϕ, the angle between τ and p − o, is
constant.
1
(vi) ν = √1+b 2
(−b sin θ − cos θ, b cos θ − sin θ) ⇒ q = p + 1c ν =
ab ebθ (− sin θ, cos θ) is a point of the evolute, whose polar equation
is hence r = ab ebθ , which is still a logarithmic spiral.
1
5. (i) c = aθ .
(ii)  = 12 aθ2 .
(iii) ν = (− sin θ, cos θ) ⇒ p + ρν = p + 1c ν = a(cos θ, sin θ), which is
the parametric equation of a circle of center o and radius a.
6. (i) τ = √a21+b2 (−a sin ωθ, a cos ωθ, b) ⇒ cos ϕ = τ · e3 = √a2b+b2 ,
which is√ independent of θ.
(ii)  = ωθ a2 + b2 .
(iii) c = a2 +b
a
2.

(iv) ϑ = − a2 +bb
2.

(v) Let pi , pi+1 be two points, the intersection of the same generatrix of
the cylinder with the helix, i.e. for, say, θ + i 2π 2π
ω and θ + (i + 1) ω ⇒
d = (pi+1 − pi ) · e3 = 2πb.
(vi) By definition, a curve is a helix ⇐⇒ τ ·e3 = const; differentiating
gives τ  · e3 + τ · e3 = τ  · e3 = 0 ⇒ by the first equation of
Frenet–Serret, cν · e3 = 0 ⇒ ν · e3 = 0 ⇒ β is tangent to the
 192 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

cylinder and β · e3 = const. Moreover, differentiating again, ν ·

e3 + ν · e3 = ν  · e3 = 0 ⇒ by the third equation of Frenet–Serret
(−cτ − ϑβ) · e3 = 0 ⇒ −cτ · e3 = ϑβ · e3 ⇒ ϑc = − β·e τ ·e3 = const.
3

Conversely, if p(s) is a curve with ϑ = α = const., through the first

c

and second equations of Frenet–Serret, we get ν = 1c τ  = ϑ1 β  ⇒

τ  = ϑc β  = αβ  ⇒ (τ − αβ) = 0 ⇒ v = τ − αβ = const. ⇒
τ · v = 1 ⇒ τ forms with v a constant angle, and because v is a
constant vector, τ · e3 = const. ⇒ the curve is a helix.
(vii) p × p = ω 3 (ab sin ωθ, −ab cos ωθ, a2 ) ⇒ A = abω 3 , B = a2 ω 3 .
7. (i) p(θ) = R(θ − sin θ, 1− cos θ).
(ii) (θ) = 4R 1 − cos θ2 ⇒ (2π) = 8R.
(iii) c= √ 1 .
2R 2(1−cos θ)
(iv) ν = √ 1
(sin θ, cos θ − 1) ⇒ q(θ) = p(θ) + 1c ν = R(θ +
2(1−cos θ)
sin θ, cos θ − 1); this curve is the evolute of the cycloid, and it can
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also be obtained as q(θ) = p(θ + π) − (π, 2R), i.e. it is the same

cycloid p(θ) translated by −(π, 2R).
1
8. (i) c = cosh 2 t.

sinh t 1 1
(ii) ν = − cosh t , cosh t ⇒ q(t) = p(t)+ c ν = (t−sinh t cosh t, 2 cosh t)
is the evolute. 
1 sinh t
(iii) s = |p (t)|dt = sinh t, τ = cosh t , cosh t ⇒ b(t) = p(t) + (a −
s)τ = t + a−sinh cosh t , cosh t + sinh t cosh t
t a−sinh t
is the equation of the
involutes.
9. (i) τ = (cos t, sin t); tangentto the tractrix at p: z = p + wτ =
(1 + w) cos t + ln tan 2t , (1 + w) sint . Intersection of g with x1
axis for w = −1 → g = ln tan 2t , 0 ⇒ |p − g| = 1 ∀t.
sin t2
(ii)  = ln sin t1 .
(iii) c = tan t.  
(iv) ν = (−sin t, cos  t) ⇒ q = p + 1c ν = ln tan 2t , sin1 t . Setting
σ = ln tan 2t ⇒ tan 2t = eσ , sin1 t = cosh σ ⇒ q = (σ, cosh σ),
which is the equation of a catenary.
10. (i) p(θ) = (cos θ, sin θ, sin θ) ⇒ p√(= − sin θ, cos θ,√ cos θ), p =
2
(− cos θ, − sin θ, − sin θ) ⇒ c = 2
3 ⇒ cmax = 2.
(1+cos θ) 2
(ii) p = (sin θ, − cos θ, − cos θ) ⇒ p × p · p = cos θ − cos θ = 0 ⇒
ϑ = 0 ⇒ the curve is planar.
11. (i) v = ṗ, τ = |ṗṗ| ⇒ ṗ = |ṗ|τ ⇒ v = vτ , v = |ṗ| is the scalar velocity.
|τ̇ |
(ii) a = p̈ = v̇ = (vτ )· = v̇τ + v τ̇ ; τ̇ = |τ̇ |ν; c = |ṗ| ⇒ |τ̇ | = |ṗ|c =
2
v2
v
ρ ⇒ a = v̇τ + ν; v̇ is the tangential acceleration and
v
ρ ρ the
centripetal acceleration.
 Solutions to the Exercises 193

2
(iii) f = ma = mv̇τ + mv ρ ν = fτ τ + fν ν; fτ = mv̇ is the tangential
force, which is responsible for the change in the scalar velocity;
2
fν = mvρ is the centripetal force, which is responsible for the path
change.

Chapter 5

1. (i) By Eq. (5.1)3 , grad(v · w) = (gradw) v + (gradv) w =

(gradw) v + (gradw)v − (gradw)v + (gradv) w + (gradv)w −
(gradv)w = (gradw)v + (gradv)w + ((gradw) − gradw))v +
((gradv) − gradv))w = (gradw)v + (gradv)w − (curlw) × v −
(curlv) × w = (gradw)v + (gradv)w + v × (curlw) + w × (curlv).
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(ii) By Eqs. (5.1)2,3 and Exercise 3(iii), Chapter 2, grad(u · v w) =

u · v gradw + w ⊗ grad(u · v) = u · v gradw + w ⊗ ((gradu) v +
(gradv) u) = u · v gradw + w ⊗ (gradu) v + w ⊗ (gradv) u =
u · v gradw + (w ⊗ v)gradu + (w ⊗ u)gradv.
(iii) By Theorem 30(i), div((gradv)v − (divv)v) + (divv)2 =
div((gradv)v) − div((divv)v) + (divv)2 = (gradv) · gradv + v ·
div(gradv) − (divv)2 − v · grad(divv) + (divv)2 = (gradv) ·
gradv + v · div(gradv) − v · div(gradv) = (gradv) · gradv.
2. (i) By Theorem 30(i), div(gradv) = div(vj,i ei ⊗ ej ) = vj,i div(ei ⊗
ej ) + ei ⊗ ej gradvj,i = ei ⊗ ej vj,ik ek = vj,ik δjk ei = vj,ij ei =
vj,ji ei = (divv),i ei = grad(divv).
(ii) By (iii) of the previous exercise and Theorem 30(i), div((gradv)v−
(divv)v) = gradv · (gradv) − (divv)2 and also div((gradv)v −
(divv)v) = div(gradv)v) − div((divv)v) = div((gradv)v) −
(divv)2 − v · grad(divv), so comparing the two results,
div((gradv)v) = gradv · (gradv) + v · grad(divv).
(iii) By Theorem 30(i) and (iv), div(ϕLv) = ϕdiv(Lv) + Lv · gradϕ =
Lv · gradϕ + ϕL · gradv + ϕv · divL .
3. (i) By Theorem 28(ii) and Eq. (2.33), ∀a = const. ∈ V, (curl(ϕv)) ×
a = (grad(ϕv) − (grad(ϕv) )a = (ϕgradv + v ⊗ gradϕ − (ϕgradv +
v⊗gradϕ) )a = (ϕgradv+v⊗gradϕ−ϕ(gradv) −gradϕ⊗v)a =
ϕ(curlv) × a + a · gradϕ v − a · v gradϕ = ϕ(curlv) × a + a × (v ×
gradϕ) = ϕ(curlv)×a−(v×gradϕ)×a = (ϕcurlv−v×gradϕ)×a ⇒
curl(ϕv) = ϕcurlv + gradϕ × v.
 194 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

(ii) Using Ricci’s alternator for the cross product, v × w = pqr vq wr ep

and curl(v × w) = ijk (v × w)k,j ei = ijk kqr (vq wr ),j ei =
ijk kqr (vq,j wr + vq wr,j )ei = kij kqr (vq,j wr + vq wr,j )ei . Then,
because kij kqr = δiq δjr − δir δjq , we get curl(v × w) =
(δiq δjr − δir δjq )(vq,j wr + vq wr,j )ei = δiq δjr (vq,j wr + vq wr,j )ei −
δir δjq (vq,j wr +vq wr,j )ei = (vi,j wj +vi wj,j )ei −(vj,j wi +vj wi,j )ei =
gradv w − gradw v + vdivw − wdivv.   
4. (i) Through
 Theorem 30(iv),
 we get ∂Ω v·Ln dA = ∂Ω L v·n dA =

Ω div(L v)dV = Ω L · gradv + v · divL dV.
(ii) By
 Theorems 29 and 30(i),  ∀a = const. ∈ V, ∂Ω (Ln)  ⊗ v a dA =
∂Ω a · v Ln dA  = Ω div(a · v L)dV = Ω a · v divL +
 
Lgrad(a
 · v)dV = Ω a · v divL + L(grada) v + L(gradv) a dV =

Ω
((divL) ⊗ v + L(gradv)
 )a dV.  
(iii) By Theorem  30(ii), ∂Ω
(w·n)v dA = ∂Ω (v⊗w)n dA = Ω div(v⊗
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w)dV = Ω v divw + (gradv)w dV.

5. (i) Take u = αn, n ∈ S → ϕ(p + αn) = ϕ(p) + α gradϕ · n + o(α) ⇒
ϕ(p+αn)−ϕ(p)
dϕ
dn := limα→0 α = gradϕ · n.
(ii) In a similar way, v(p + αn) = v(p) + α gradv n + o(α) ⇒
dv v(p+αn)−v(p)
dn := limα→0 α = gradv n.
6. (i) Applying the first proof of the previous exercise to n = ei , i =
1, 2, 3, we get immediately de df
i
:= f,i = gradf · ei := (gradf ),i ⇒
gradf = f,i ei .
(ii) Applying the second proof of the previous exercise to n = ej , j =
1, 2, 3, we obtain de dv
j
:= v,j = vi,j ei = gradv ej = (gradv)ik ei ⊗
ek ej = δkj (gradv)ik ei = (gradv)ij ei
⇒ (gradv)ij = vi,j ⇒ gradv = vi,j ei ⊗ ej .
(iii) divv := tr(gradv) = tr(vi,j ei ⊗ej ) = vi,j tr(ei ⊗ej ) = δij vi,j = vi,i .
(iv) ∀u = const. ∈ V, (divL) · u := div(L u) ⇒ (divL)i ui =
(L u)j,j = (Lij ui ),j = Lij,j ui ⇒ (divL)i = Lij,j ⇒ divL =
Lij,j ei .
(v) Δf := div(gradf ) = div(f,i ei ) = f,ii .
(vi) Δv := div(gradv) = div(vi,j ei ⊗ ej ) = vi,jj ei .
(vii) For the sake of brevity, let w = curlv; ∀u ∈ V,
⎡ ⎤⎧ ⎫
0 −w3 w2 ⎨ u1 ⎬
(curlv) × u := (gradv − gradv )u ⇒ ⎣ w3 0 −w1 ⎦ u2
⎩ ⎭
−w2 w1 0 u3
⎛⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤⎞ ⎧ ⎫
v1,1 v1,2 v1,3 v1,1 v2,1 v3,1 u
⎨ 1⎬
= ⎝⎣ v2,1 v2,2 v2,3 ⎦ − ⎣ v1,2 v2,2 v3,2 ⎦⎠ u2
⎩ ⎭
v3,1 v3,2 v3,3 v1,3 v2,3 v3,3 u3
 Solutions to the Exercises 195

⎡ ⎤⎧ ⎫
0 v1,2 − v2,1 v1,3 − v3,1 ⎨ u1 ⎬
= ⎣ v2,1 − v1,2 0 v2,3 − v3,2 ⎦ u2 ⇒ curlv
⎩ ⎭
v3,1 − v1,3 v3,2 − v2,3 0 u3
⎧ ⎫
⎨ v3,2 − v2,3 ⎬
= v1,3 − v3,1 .
⎩ ⎭
v2,1 − v1,2
7. (i) v(p) = v(p0 ) + ω × (p − p0 ) ⇒ ∃Wω ∈ Skw(V)| v(p) =
v(p0 ) + Wω (p − p0 ), with Wω the axial tensor of ω. Moreover,
by the definition of gradient, v(p) = v(p0 ) + (gradv)(p − p0 ) ⇒
 
Wω = gradv ⇒ gradv = gradv+gradv 2 + gradv−gradv
2 = Wω =
gradv+gradv 
−Wω ⇐⇒ 2 = O ⇒ gradv = gradv−gradv 2 ⇒
gradv−gradv
v(p) = v(p0 ) + 2 (p − p0 ) so, by the definition of curl,
v(p) = v(p0 ) + 12 curlv × (p − p0 ), and comparing the two results,
we get ω = 12 curl.
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(ii) By the definition of divergence and Eq. (2.8), divv = tr(gradv) =

trWω = 0.
8. (i) divu = 3α → nowhere isochoric.
(ii) divu = 0 → globally isochoric.
(iii) divu = γ(x1 + x2 + x3 ) = 0: isochoric on the points of the plane
x1 + x2 + x3 = 0.
(iv) divu = δ(cos x1 + sin x2 + cos x3 ) = 0: isochoric on the points of
the surface cos x1 + sin x2 + cos x3 = 0.
9. Using Eq. (5.14), we get:

(i) vθ = vz = 0, vρ = αρ ⇒ divv = − ρα2 + ρα2 = 0.

(ii) vρ = vz = 0, vθ = αρ ⇒ divv = 0.
(iii) vρ = α cos
ρ2 , vθ =
θ α sin θ
ρ2 , vz = 0 ⇒ divu = −
2α cos θ
ρ3 + 2α cos θ
ρ3 = 0.

10. Using Eq. (5.15), we get:

(i) vρ,θ = vρ,z = vθ,ρ = vθ,z = vz,ρ = vz,θ = 0 ⇒ curlv = o.

(ii) vρ,θ = vρ,z = vθ,z = vz,ρ = vz,θ = 0, vθ,ρ = − ρα2 ⇒ curlv
 
= 0, 0, ρα2 − ρα2 = o.
(iii) vρ,θ = − α cos
ρ2  , vρ,z = 0, vθ,ρ = − ρ3
θ 2α sin θ
, vθ,z = 0, vz,ρ = vz, θ =

α cos θ α cos θ α cos θ
0 ⇒ curlv = 0, 0, ρ3 − 2 ρ3 + ρ3 = o.
 196 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

Chapter 6
⎡ ⎤
1 0 0
1. Setting ρ = z 1 , θ = z 2 , z = z 3 , by Eq. (6.3), we get g = ⎣ 0 ρ2 0 ⎦ ⇒
0 0 1
 
ds = ghk dz dz = dρ + ρ dθ + dz .
h k 2 2 2 2
1 2 3
2. ⎡ r = z , θ = z⎤ , ϕ = z , proceeding in a similar way, we get
Setting
1 0 0 
g = ⎣ 0 r2 sin2 ϕ 0 ⎦ ⇒ ds = ghk dz h dz k
0 0 r2

2
= dr2 + r2 sin ϕdθ2 + r2 dϕ2 . 
3. For cylindrical coordinates, cf. Exercise 1, ds = dρ2 + ρ2 dθ2 + dz 2 ,
√ for a curve on a circular cylinder, ρ = R ⇒ dρ = 0 ⇒ ds =
and
R2 dθ2 + dz 2 ; if the equation of the helix is p(θ) = R cos θe1 +
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R sin θe2 + bθe3 , then dz dθ = b ⇒√dz = b dθ ⇒

√ θ+2π √
2
ds = R + b dθ ⇒  = θ2 R2 + b2 dθ = 2π R2 + b√ 2.
2R 2R
√ 2R
4. (i) r = π θ ⇒ dr = π dθ; ds = dr2 + r2 dθ2 = π 1 + θ2 dθ ⇒
 π2  π2 √ √ π
 = √ 0
ds = 2R π 0 1 + θ2 dθ = R

2
π [θ 1 + θ + arcsinhθ]0 =
2

1 2 1
4 4 + π + π arcsinh 2 R ∼ 1.324R.
π

(ii) 2 R = 2πR0 ⇒ R0 = R4 ⇒ h =
π
R2 − R02 = 15 4 R; ρ(z) =
R0
z, z = h
2π θ ⇒ ρ(θ) = R0
2π θ ⇒ ρ(θ) = 8π θ, z(θ) =
R
√h √
15 15
8π Rθ ⇒ dρ = 8π dθ, dz = 8π R dθ; equation
R
√ of the
conical helix: p(θ) = ρ(z) √ cos θe 1 + ρ(z) sin θe 2 + 15θe3 =
R
θ cos θe + θ sin θe + 15θe ⇒ ds = dρ 2 + ρ2 dθ 2 + dz 2 =
8π √ 1 2 3
√  2π
2 2 2 2 = 2
8π  dθ √+ θ dθ + 15dθ 8π 16 + θ dθ ⇒  = 0 ds =
R R
2π 2 dθ =
R
8π 0 16 + θ
R 1
 √ 
θ 2π
2
8π 2 θ 16 + θ + 8arcsinh 4 0 ∼ 1.324R.
5. (i) Referring to Fig. 6.5 and by Eq. (6.3), x1 = z 1 cos α1 + z 2 cos  α2 ,
1 cos(α2 − α1 )
x2 = z 1 sin α1 + z 2 sin α2 ⇒ g = .
cos(α2 − α1 ) 1
(ii) By Eq. (6.5), g1 = cos α1 e1 + sin α1 e2 , g2 = cos α2 e1 + sin α2 e2 .
(iii) z 1 = h(x1 sin α2 − x2 cos α2 ), z 2 = h(−x1 sin α1 + x2 cos α1 ), h =
1 1 sin α2 cos α2 2
sin(α2 −α1 ) ⇒ by Eq. (6.14), g = sin(α2 −α1 ) e1 − sin(α2 −α1 ) e2 , g =
sin α1 cos α1
− sin(α 2 −α1 )
e1 + sin(α 2 −α1 )
e2 .
1 cos α1 sin α2 −sin α1 cos α2
(iv) g1 · g = sin(α2 −α1 ) = 1,
− sin α1 cos α2 +sin α2 cos α1
g2 · g 2 = sin(α2 −α1 ) = 1,
 Solutions to the Exercises 197

− cos α1 sin α1 +sin α1 cos α1

g1 · g 2 = sin(α2 −α1 ) = 0,
1 cos α2 sin α2 −sin α2 cos α2
g2 · g = sin(α2 −α1 ) = 0.
(v) |g1 | = |g2 | = 1, |g1 | = |g2 | = | sin(α12 −α1 )| .
(vi)

g2
x2
g2

g1
2
1
x1
g1
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6. Referring to Exercise 2 and by Eq. (6.5), we get g1 = cos θ sin ϕe1 +

sin θ sin ϕe2 + cos ϕe3 , g2 = −r sin θ sin ϕe1 + r cos θ sin ϕe2 , g3 =
r cos θ cos ϕe1 + r sin θ cos ϕe2 − r sin ϕe3 .
7. (i) If z 1 = const. ⇒ x1 = a cos z 2 , x2 = b sin z 2 , with a = c cosh z 1 =
x2 x2
const., b = c sinh z 1 = const. √ ⇒ a21 + b22 = 1: family of ellipses all
with the same focuses xe = ± a2 − b2 = ±c.
(ii) If z 2 = const. ⇒ x1 = A cosh z 1 , x2 = B sinh z 1 , with A =
x2 x2
c cos z 2 = const., B = c sin z 2 = const. ⇒ A12√− B22 = 1: family
of hyperbolae all with the same focuses xh = ± A2 + B 2 = ±c ⇒
xe = xh .
(iii) The axes of the ellipses are 2a = 2c cosh z 1 and 2b = 2c sinh z 1 .
(iv) A crack along the horizontal axis corresponds to b → 0, which
happens ⇐⇒ z 1 → 0 ⇒ cosh z 1 → 1 and a → c ⇒ length of the
crack: 2c. 
2
(v) Applying Eq. (6.3), we get g = c2 cosh 2z 1 − cos 2z 2 I.
(vi) By Eq. (6.5), g1 = c sinh z 1 cos z 2 e1 + c cosh z 1 sin z 2 e2 , g2 =
−c cosh z 1 sin z 2 e1 + c sinh z 1 cos z 2 e2 . We note that g1 · g2 = 0.
8. (i) By Eq. (6.16)1 , setting z 1 = ρ, z 2 = θ, z 3 = z, we get
L11 = Lx11 cos2 θ + (Lx12 + Lx21 ) sin θ cos θ + Lx22 sin2 θ, 
L12 = ρ1 (Lx22 − Lx11 ) sin θ cos θ + Lx12 cos2 θ − Lx21 sin2 θ ,
L13 = Lx13 cos θ + Lx23 sin θ, 
L21 = ρ1 (Lx22 − Lx11 ) sin θ cos θ − Lx12 sin2 θ + Lx21 cos2 θ ,
 198 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers


L22 = ρ12 Lx11 sin2 θ − (Lx12 + Lx21 ) sin θ cos θ + Lx22 cos2 θ ,
L23 = −Lx13 sin θ + Lx23 cos θ,
L31 = Lx31 cos θ + Lx32 sin θ,
L32 = −Lx31 sin θ + Lx32 cos θ,
L33 = Lx33 .
(ii) The covariant components can alternatively be found by Eq. (6.16)2
or, using the results of the previous point, by Eq. (6.19)2 ; by this
latter way, using the result of Ex. 1, we get easily L11 = L11 , L12 =
ρ2 L12 , L13 = L13 , L21 = ρ2 L21 , L22 = ρ4 L22 , L23 = ρ2 L23 , L31 =
L31 , L32 = ρ2 L32 , L33 = L33 .
9. (i) First, the covariant components: By Eq. (6.16)2 , setting z 1 =
r, z 2 = θ, z 3 = ϕ, we get:
L11 = Lx11 cos2 θ sin2 ϕ + (Lx12 + Lx21 ) sin θ cos θ sin2 ϕ
+ (Lx13 + Lx31 ) cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ + Lx22 sin2 θ sin2 ϕ
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+(Lx23 + Lx32 ) sin θ sin ϕ cos ϕ + Lx33 cos2 ϕ,

L12 = −r cos θ sin θ sin2 ϕLx11 + r sin2 ϕ(Lx12 cos2 θ − Lx21 sin2 θ)
+ r sin θ cos θ sin2 ϕLx22 + r sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx32 cos θ − Lx31 sin θ),
L13 = r cos2 θ sin ϕ cos ϕLx11 + r sin θ cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx12 + Lx21 )
+ r sin2 θ cos ϕ sin ϕLx22 − r sin2 ϕ sin θLx23
+ r cos θ(Lx31 cos2 ϕ − Lx13 sin2 ϕ)
− r cos ϕ sin ϕLx33 ,
L21 = −r sin θ cos θ sin2 ϕLx11 + r sin2 ϕ(Lx21 cos2 θ − Lx12 sin2 θ)
+ r sin θ cos θ sin2 ϕLx22 + r sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx23 cos θ − Lx13 sin θ),
L22 = r2 sin2 θ sin2 ϕLx11 − r2 sin θ cos θ sin2 ϕ(Lx12 + Lx21 )
+ r2 cos2 θ sin2 ϕLx22 ,
L23 = −r2 sin θ cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx22 − Lx11 ) + r2 sin ϕ cos ϕ
(Lx21 cos2 θ − Lx12 sin2 θ)
+ r2 sin2 ϕ(Lx13 sin θ − Lx23 cos θ),
L31 = r sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx11 cos2 θ + Lx22 sin2 θ)
+ r sin θ cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx12 + Lx21 )
+ r cos θ(Lx13 cos2 ϕ − Lx31 sin2 ϕ)
+ r sin θ(Lx23 cos2 ϕ − Lx32 sin2 ϕ) − r sin ϕ cos ϕLx33 ,
L32 = r2 sin θ cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx22 − Lx11 )
+ r2 sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx12 cos2 θ − Lx21 sin2 θ)
+ r2 sin2 ϕ(Lx31 sin θ − Lx32 cos θ),
 Solutions to the Exercises 199

L33 = r2 cos2 ϕ(Lx11 cos2 θ + Lx22 sin2 θ)

+ r2 sin θ cos θ cos2 ϕ(Lx12 + Lx21 )
− r2 cos θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx13 + Lx31 )
− r2 sin θ sin ϕ cos ϕ(Lx23 + Lx32 ) + r2 sin2 ϕLx33 .
(ii) For the contravariant components, we use Eq. (6.19)1 , after having
calculated gcont ; this can be done either using Eq. (6.11) or simply
observing that ⎡gcov is diagonal ⎤ (see Exercise 2) and that g =
pq

1 0 0
1 ⎢ 1 ⎥
gpq ⇒ g cont
= ⎣ 0 r sin ϕ 0 ⎦ ⇒
2 2
1
0 0 r2
11 12 13 21 22
L = L11 , L = r2 Lsin 12
2 ϕ, L 2 , L
= Lr13 = r2 Lsin
21
2 ϕ, L =
23 31 32 33
r 4 sin4 ϕ , L = r4 sin2 ϕ , L = r2 , L = r4 sin2 ϕ , L = r4 .
L22 L23 L31 L32 L33

10. (i) trL = Lhh x

, Eq. (2.7).
(ii) By Eq. (2.7)1 ⇒ Lhh x
= ∂x∂z i ∂z j L δhk = gij L .
h ∂xk ij ij
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i j
(iii) By Eq. (2.7)2 ⇒ Lxhh = ∂x ∂z ∂z
h ∂xk
Lij δhk = g ij Lij .
∂xh ∂z j i j i
(iv) By Eq. (2.7)3 ⇒ Lxhh = ∂z i ∂xk L j δhk = δi L j = L i .
i
i
(v) By Eq. (2.7)4 ⇒ Lxhh = ∂x ∂z ∂xk
L j δ = δ i j Li j = Ljj .
  h ∂zj h i mhk 
1 hm ∂gmk 1 ∂z ∂z ∂ ∂xp ∂xp ∂ ∂xp ∂xp
11. 2 g l + ∂gml
k − ∂gkl
m = 2 ∂xp ∂xp ∂z l ∂z m ∂z k + ∂z k ∂z m ∂z l −
∂z
 ∂z ∂z

h
∂z m ∂ 2 xp ∂xp ∂xp ∂ 2 xp ∂ 2 xp ∂xp
∂ ∂xp ∂xp
∂z m ∂z k ∂z l = 12 ∂z ∂xp ∂xp ∂z l ∂z m ∂z k + ∂z m ∂z l ∂z k + ∂z k ∂z m ∂z l +

∂xp ∂ 2 xp ∂ 2 xp ∂xp ∂ 2 xp ∂xp h
∂z m ∂xp ∂ xp
2

∂z m ∂z k ∂z l − ∂z m ∂z k ∂z l − ∂z m ∂z l ∂z k = ∂z ∂xp ∂xp ∂z m ∂z k ∂z l =
2
∂z h ∂ xp
∂xp ∂z k ∂z l = Γkl .
h

∂z i ∂z m ∂xq ∂xq ∂z m ∂xq

12. First, we remark that g im gik = ∂x i
p ∂xp ∂z ∂z
k = δpq ∂x
p ∂z
k
m
= ∂z∂zk
= δ , and similarly, g im
g = δ . Then, Γ i
g + Γ i
g
mk  ij 
mj jh ik kh ji 
1 ∂g ∂g
= 2 g im ∂zh + ∂zmh
mj ∂g
j − ∂zm gik + g im ∂zmk
jh ∂g
h + ∂z k − ∂z m
∂g mh ∂gkh
gji
    
1 ∂g ∂gjh
= 2 g im gik ∂zmj h + ∂gmh
∂z j − ∂z m + g im
g ij
∂gmk
∂z h
+ ∂gmh
∂z k
− ∂gkh
∂z m
    
1 ∂gmj ∂gjh
= 2 δmk ∂zh + ∂zj − ∂zm + δmj ∂zh + ∂zk − ∂zm
∂gmh ∂gmk ∂gmh ∂gkh
 
= 12 ∂zkj
∂g ∂gjh ∂gjk ∂gjh ∂g
h + ∂z j − ∂z k + ∂z h + ∂z k − ∂z j h .
∂gkh ∂gkh
= ∂zjk
13. (i) gρρ = gzz = 1, gθθ = ρ2 , and the othercomponents are null ⇒
g ρρ = g zz = 1, g θθ = ρ12 ⇒ Γρθθ = 12 g ρm ∂g∂θmθ
+ ∂g∂θmθ − ∂g θθ
∂z m =
 
− 12 g ρρ ∂g∂ρθθ = −ρ, Γθρθ = 12 g θm ∂θ
∂gmρ ∂g
+ ∂g∂ρ
mθ
− ∂zρθ
m =
1 θθ ∂gθθ
2g ∂ρ = ρ1 , and the other Γkij are null.
 200 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

(ii) grr = 1, gϕϕ = r2 sin2 ϕ, gθθ = r2 ⇒ g rr = 1, g ϕϕ = 1

r 2 sin2 ϕ
, g θθ
= r12 , and the other components are
 null ⇒
1 ϕm
= 12 g ϕϕ ∂rϕϕ = 1r ,
∂g ∂g ∂g
ϕr = 2 g ∂r + ∂ϕ − ∂z m
mϕ ∂gmr ϕr
Γϕ
 
Γθθr = 12 g θm ∂g∂r
θm
+ ∂g∂θ
rm
− ∂gθr
∂z m = 1 g θθ ∂g∂rθθ = 1r ,
  2
Γrϕϕ = 12 g rm ∂ϕ = − 12 g rr ∂rϕϕ = −r,
∂gϕm ∂gϕm ∂g ∂g
+ ∂ϕ − ∂zϕϕm
 
Γrθθ = 12 g rm ∂g∂θ
θm
+ ∂g∂θ
θm
− ∂gθθ
∂z m = − 12 g rr ∂g∂rθθ = −r sin2 ϕ,
 
Γθθϕ = 12 g θm ∂g∂ϕ = 12 g θθ ∂g
∂gϕm ∂g
θm
+ ∂θ − ∂zθϕm ∂ϕ = cot ϕ,
θθ

 
1 ϕm ∂gθm
Γϕθθ = 2 g ∂θ + ∂θ − ∂z m
∂gθm ∂gθθ
= − 12 g ϕϕ ∂g∂ϕ = − sin ϕ cos ϕ,
θθ

rϕ = Γϕr , Γrθ = Γθr , Γϕθ = Γθϕ , and the other Γij are null.
Γϕ ϕ θ θ θ θ k

c2 1
(iii) g11 = g22 = 2 (cosh 2z − cos 2z 2 ) ⇒ g 11 = g 22 =
2
c2 (cosh 2z 1 −cos 2z2 ) , and the other components are null

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⇒ Γ111 = 12 g 1m ∂g ∂z
1m
1 + ∂g1m
∂z 1 − ∂g11
∂z m = 12 g 11 ∂g 11
∂z 1
1
= cosh sinh 2z
,
2z 1 −cos2z2 
1 1m ∂g1m
1
Γ12 = 2 g ∂z 2 + ∂g2m
∂z 1 − ∂g12
∂z m = 12 g 11 ∂g11
∂z 2
sin 2z 2
= cosh 2z 1 −cos 2z 2 ,

and Γ212 = Γ221 = Γ111 = −Γ122 , Γ222 = Γ112 = Γ121 = −Γ211 .

14. Applying Eq. (6.27), we  get:  
ρ jk ∂f
(i) Δf = ∂ρ∂
g ρk ∂z
∂f
k + Γ ρj g ∂z k
+ ∂
g θk ∂f
∂z k
+ Γθθj g jk ∂z
∂f
k +
  ∂θ
ρ θθ ∂f
∂z g ∂z k + Γzj g ∂z k = ∂ρ g ∂ρ + Γρθ g ∂θ + ∂θ g
∂ zk ∂f z jk ∂f ∂ ρρ ∂f ∂ θθ ∂f
∂θ +
2 2 2
1 ∂ f 1 ∂f
Γθθθ g θθ ∂f
∂θ + Γθρ g
θ ρρ ∂f
∂ρ + ∂z g
∂ zz ∂f ∂ f
∂z = ∂ρ2 + ρ2 ∂θ 2 + ρ ∂ρ + ∂z 2
∂ f

= ρ1 (ρ f,ρ ),ρ + ρ12 f,θθ + f,zz , which is the same already found in
Section 5.6.   
(ii) Δf = ∂r ∂
g rk ∂z
∂f
k + Γrrj g jk ∂z
∂f ∂
k + ∂θ g θk ∂z
∂f
k + Γθθj g jk ∂z
∂f
k +
 
∂ϕ g
∂ ϕk ∂f
∂z k + Γϕ ϕj g ∂z k = ∂r g ∂r + Γθr g ∂z k + ∂θ g
jk ∂f ∂ rr ∂f θ rk ∂f ∂ θθ ∂f
∂θ +
∂2f 1 ∂2f 2 ∂f
Γθθϕ g ϕk ∂z
∂f
k + ∂ϕ g ∂ϕ + Γϕr g ∂z k = ∂r 2 +
∂ ϕϕ ∂f ϕ rk ∂f
r 2 sin2 ϕ ∂θ 2 + +
2
 
r ∂r
cot ϕ r12 ∂ϕ 1 ∂ f 1 2 1 f,θθ
r 2 ∂ϕ2 = r 2 (r f,r ),r + r 2 sin ϕ sin ϕ + (f,ϕ sin ϕ),ϕ ,
∂f
+
which is to be compared to the one given innpSection 5.7.
np
15. (i) By Eqs. (6.11), (6.25), and (6.29), g;h = ∂g
∂z h
+ Γnhr g rp
n p n 2 p 2
+ Γphr g nr , g np = ∂z ∂z n ∂z p
∂xk ∂xk , Γhr = ∂xm ∂z h ∂z r , Γhr = ∂xt ∂z h ∂z r
∂ xm ∂z ∂ xt
np n p n p n r p
⇒ g;h = ∂x∂ k ∂z ∂z ∂z ∂ ∂z ∂z ∂ ∂xm ∂z ∂z
∂xh ∂xk + ∂xk ∂xk ∂z h + ∂xm ∂z r ∂z h ∂xq ∂xq
∂z p ∂ ∂xt ∂z n ∂z r ∂z n ∂ ∂xm ∂z p ∂z p ∂ ∂xt ∂z n
+ ∂xt ∂z r ∂z h ∂xs ∂xs = ∂xm ∂z h ∂xq ∂xq + ∂xt ∂z h ∂xs ∂xs =0
 Solutions to the Exercises 201

∂z h = δnh , ∂xq = δmq etc., so their derivatives are

∂xm
because, e.g., ∂z
null.
2
(ii) By eqs. (6.3), (6.25), and (6.30), gnp;h = ∂z∂h ∂z xk ∂xk
n ∂z p +
2
∂z r ∂ 2 xm ∂xq ∂xq ∂z r ∂ 2 xt ∂xs ∂xs
∂xk ∂ xk
∂z n ∂z h ∂z p − ∂xm ∂z p ∂z h ∂z n ∂z r − ∂xt ∂z n ∂z h ∂z p ∂z r =
∂ 2 xk ∂xk ∂ 2 xk ∂ 2 xm ∂xq ∂ 2 xt ∂xs
∂z n ∂z h ∂z p − δqm ∂z p ∂z h ∂z n − δst ∂z n ∂z h ∂z p
∂xk
∂z h ∂z n ∂z p + =
∂ 2 xk ∂xk ∂ 2 xk ∂ 2 xq ∂xq ∂ 2 xs ∂xs
∂z n ∂z h ∂z p − ∂z p ∂z h ∂z n − ∂z n ∂z h ∂z p = 0.
∂xk
∂z h ∂z n ∂z p +

Chapter 7

1. It is sufficient to pose x1 = u, x2 = v, x3 = f (u, v) ⇒ p(u, v) defines a

surface because as f (u, v) is smooth, p(u, v) is also smooth, and because
⎡ ⎤
1 0
the Jacobian is [J] = ⎣ 0 1 ⎦, then rank[J] = 2.
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f f
⎧ ,u ,v
⎨ x1 = cosh u cos v,
2. Catenoid: f (u, v) : x2 = cosh u sin v, Meridians: v = const.; if, for
⎩
x3 = u;
⎧
⎨ x1 = cosh u,
example, v = 0 ⇒ x2 = 0, is a catenary in the plane (x1 , x3 ).
⎩
x3 = u,
⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ sinh u cos v ⎬ ⎨ − cosh u sin v ⎬
f,u = sinh u sin v , f,v = cosh u cos v ⇒g=
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
1 0
 
cosh2 u 0
.
0 cosh2 u
⎧ ⎫
⎨ − cosh u cos v ⎬
f,u × f,v = − cosh u sin v , |f,u × f,v | = cosh2 u ⇒ N =
⎩ ⎭
sinh u cosh u
⎧ ⎫
⎨ − cos v ⎬
1
cosh u ⎩ − sin v ⎭ ;
sinh u
⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ − sinh u sin v ⎬ ⎨ cosh u cos v ⎬
f,uv = f,vu = sinh u cos v , f,uu = cosh u sin v ,
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
0 0
⎧ ⎫
⎨ − cosh u cos v ⎬  
−1 0
f,vv = − cosh u sin v ⇒ B = ⇒ K = − cosh1 4 u .
⎩ ⎭ 0 1
0
 202 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

⎧
⎨ x1 = sin u cos v,
3. Pseudo-sphere: f (u, v) : x = sin u sin v,  Meridians: v =
⎩ 2
x3 = cos u + ln tan 2 . u
⎧
⎨ x1 = sin u,
const.; if, for example, v = 0 ⇒ x2 = 0,  is a tractrix
⎩
x3 = cos u + ln tan 2 , u

in the plane (x1 , x3 ).

⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ cos u cos v ⎬ ⎨ − sin u sin v ⎬
f,u = cos u sin v , f,v = sin u cos v ⇒g=
⎩ ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
− sin u + sin1 u 0
 2 
cos u
0
sin2 u .
0 sin2 u
⎧ 2
⎫
⎨ − cos u cos v ⎬
f,u × f,v = − cos2 u sin v , |f,u × f,v | = | cos u| ⇒ N =
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⎩ ⎭
sin u cos u
⎧ 2
⎫
⎨ − cos u cos v ⎬
1 2
| cos u| ⎩ − cos u sin v ⎭ ;
sin u cos u
⎧ ⎫ ⎧ ⎫
⎨ − sin u cos v ⎬ ⎨ − cos u sin v ⎬
f,uu = − sin u sin v , f,uv = f,vu = cos u cos v ,
⎩ cos u ⎭ ⎩ ⎭
− cos u − sin 2u 0
⎧ ⎫  
⎨ − sin u cos v ⎬ − sincos
2
u
0
u| cos u|
f,vv = − sin u sin v ⇒ B = cos2 u sin u
⇒
⎩ ⎭ 0 | cos u|
0
K = −1.
4. Cone: f (u, v) = vγ(u) ⇒ f,u = vγ  , f,v = γ → N  =o ⇐⇒ v  = 0 and
γ  =αγ  , i.e. everywhere except at the apex of the cone and on straight
lines tangent to γ.
5. The most ⎧general equation of the hyperbolic hyperboloid is
⎨ x1 = a(cos u − v sin u),
f (u, v) : x2 = b(sin u + v cos u), a, b, c ∈ R ⇒ f (u, v) = γ(u) + vλ(u),
⎩
x3 = c v,
with γ(u) = a cos ue1 + b sin ue2 , λ(u) = −a⎧sin ue1 + b cos ue2 + ce3 ⇒
⎨ x1 = a(cos u0 − v sin u0 ),
f (u, v) is a ruled surface. Fixing u = u0 ⇒ x2 = b(sin u0 + v cos u0 ),
⎩
x3 = c v,
equation of a bundle of straight lines belonging to f (u, v) as well as
 Solutions to the Exercises 203

⎧
⎨ x1 = a(cos u0 − v sin u0 ),
x = b(sin u0 + v cos u0 ), The angle formed by the two straight lines
⎩ 2
x3 = −c v.
2 2 2 2 2
of the two sets is θ = arccos aa2 sin u0 +b cos u0 −c
.
sin2 u0 +b2 cos2 u0 +c2 ⎧
⎨ x1 = u,
6. x3 = x1 x2 ; setting u = x1 , v = x2 ⇒ f (u, v) : x2 = v, is of the
⎩
x3 = u v,
type f (u, v) = γ(u) + vλ(v), with γ(u) = ue1 , λ(u) = e2 + ue3 .
⎧ ⎧
⎨ x1 = u0 , ⎨ x1 = u,
The straight lines x2 = v, and x2 = v0 , belong of course to
⎩ ⎩
x3 = u0 v, x3 = u v0 ,
f (u, v); they form the angle θ = arccos √ u02v0 2 ; θ = π2 ⇐⇒ 0 =
(1+u0 )(1+v0 )
v0 = 0, i.e. at (0, 0, 0).
7. (i) γ(u) = (cos u, sin u, −1), λ(u) = (cos u, sin u, 1) ⇒ f (u, v) =
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(cos u, sin u, 2v − 1), which is of the form f (u, v) = γ1 (u) + vλ1 (u),
with γ1 (u) = (cos u, sin u, −1), λ1(u) = (0, 0, 2) = const. ⇒ f (u, v)
being a cylinder whose Cartesian equation is x21 + x22 = 1.
(ii) γ(u) = (sin u, − cos u, −1), λ(u) = (− sin u, cos u, 1) ⇒
f (u, v) = (2v − 1)(− sin u, cos u, 1), which is of the form f (u, v) =
γ2 (u) + vλ2 (u), with γ2 (u) = (sin u, − cos u, −1), λ1(u) =
(−2 sin u, 2 cos u, 2) = −2γ2 (u) ⇒ f (u, v) being a cone whose
Cartesian
 equation is x21 + x22 = x23 .
x1 = (1 − v) cos(u − α) + v cos(u + α),
(iii) ⇒
x2 = (1 − v) sin(u − α) + v sin(u + α), x3 = −(1 − v) + v,

x1 = cos u cos α − sin u sin α(2v − 1),
x2 = sin u cos α + cos u sin α(2v − 1), x3 = 2v − 1.
sin α
Change in parameter w = cos − 1) ⇒
α (2v ⎧
⎧
⎨ 1x = cos α(cos u − w sin u), ⎨ x1 = a(cos u − w sin u),
x = cos α(sin u + w cos u), ⇒ x = a(sin u + w cos u), a =
⎩ 2 ⎩ 2
x3 = w cos α
sin α , x3 = cw,
cos α, c = cos α
sin α , which is the parametric equation of a hyperbolic
x21 x22 x23 x21 +x22
hyperboloid with Cartesian equation a2 + a2 − c2 =1→ cos2 α −
x23
cot2 α= 1.
8. (i) A sphere of radius R : x21 + x22 + x23 = R2 ⇒ using the
spherical coordinates θ = u, ϕ = v⎧for expressing the xi s, we get
⎨ x1 = R cos θ sin ϕ,
the parametric equation f (u, v) : x = R sin θ sin ϕ, ⇒ f,u =
⎩ 2
x3 = R cos ϕ,
 204 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

R(− sin u sin v, cos u sin v, 0),  

R2 sin2 v 0
f,v = R(cos u cos v, sin u cos v, − sin v) ⇒ g = .
0 R2
(ii) If w = af,u + bf,v ∈ Tp Σ, I(w) = w√· gw = R2 (a2 sin2 v + b2 ).
θ π√ θ π
(iii) A = θ12 0 det gdu dv = θ12 0 R4 sin2 vdu dv = 2R2 (θ2 −θ1 ).
⎧
⎨ x1 = √2 cos t,
⎪ R

(iv) Parallel: setting u = t, v = 4 , γ(t) : x2 = √R2 sin t, ⇒

π
⎪
⎩ x = √R ,
3
⎧ 2
⎪
⎨ x1 = − 2 sin t,
R
√

γ  (t) : x2 = √R2 cos t, ⇒ γ  (t) = du dt f,u + dt f,v = f,u ⇒ in the

dv
⎪
⎩
x3 = 0,
natural basis of Tp Σ, w = (1, 0) is the tangent vector to the parallel
2 θ 
γ(t) ⇒ I(w) = w · gw = R2 sin2 v = R2 ⇒  = θ12 I(w)dt =
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√R
(θ − θ1 ).
2 2
2 2 2 2 2
cos v sin v sinh u 1 sinh u cosh u
9. (i) x21 +x22 +x23 = cosh 2 u + cosh2 u + cosh2 u = cosh2 u + cosh2 u = cosh2 u =

1 → Cartesian equation of a sphere of centre (0, 0, 0) and radius

R = 1. 
u = u0 + a t,
(ii) Straight line in Ω : ⇒ curve on Σ : γ(t) :
v = v0 + b t;
⎧ cos(v0 +bt)
⎨ x1 = cosh(u0 +at) ,
⎪
sin(v0 +bt)
x2 = cosh(u 0 +at)
, or also, γ(t) = f (u(t), v(t)) ⇒ γ  (t) = du dt f,u +
⎪
⎩ sinh(u0 +at)
x3 = cosh(u0 +at) ,
dt f,v = af,u + bf,v .
dv

Meridians: setting v = const. = v̂ ⇒ μ(u) = f (u, v̂); in fact, xx12 =

tan v̂ = const. → equation of a vertical plane. Tangent to the
meridian μ(u) : μ (u) = f,u ⇒ in the natural basis {f,u , f,v }, γ  (t) =
 
(a, b), μ (u) = (1, 0); cos θ = √I(γ  ,μ )  .
I(γ )I(μ )
sinh u sinh u 1

fu = − cosh v cosh  2 u , − sin v cosh2 u , cosh2 u , f,v =
sin v cos v
− cosh u , cosh u , 0
⇒ g = cosh1 2 u I ⇒ I(γ  , μ ) = γ  · gμ = cosha 2 u , I(γ  ) = γ  · gγ  =
a2 +b2
cosh2 u
, I(μ ) = μ · gμ = cosh1 2 u ⇒ cos θ = √a2a+b2 = const. ⇒
γ(t) is a loxodromic ⎧ line on the sphere.
⎨ x1 = ϕ(u) cos v,
10. (i) Catenoid f (u, v) : x2 = ϕ(u) sin v, with ϕ(u) = cosh u, ψ(u) =
⎩
x3 = ψ(u).
u ⇒ ϕ (u) = sinh u, ϕ (u) = cosh u, ψ  (u) = 1, ψ  (u) = 0 ⇒
 Solutions to the Exercises 205

f,u = (sinh u cos v, sinh u sin v, 1), f,v =

(− cosh u sin v, cosh u cos v, 0).
(ii) g = cosh2 uI.
(iii) f,u × f,v = (− cos v, − sin v, − sinh  u), |f,u × f,v | = cosh u ⇒
cos v sin v sinh u
N = − cosh u , − cosh u , − cosh u .
f,uu = (cosh u cos v, cosh u sin v, 0), f,uv = f,vu = (− sinh u sin v,
 
−1 0
sinh u cos v, 0), f,vv = −f,uu ⇒ B = .
0 1
(iv) g−1 = cosh1 2 u I ⇒ X = g−1 B = cosh1 2 u B.
(v) Let w = (a, b) ∈ Tp Σ ⇒ I(w) = w · gw = cosh2 u(a2 + b2 ).
(vi) II(w) = w · Bw = b2 − a2 .
⎧
⎨ x1 = v cos u,
11. (i) Helicoid f (u, v) : x = v sin u, ⇒ f,u = (−v sin u, v cos u, 1),
⎩ 2
x3 = u,
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f,v = (cos u, sin u, 0).

 
1 + v2 0
(ii) g= .
0 1
√
(iii) f,u × f,v = (− sin u, cos u, −v), |f,u × f,v | = 1 + v 2 ⇒ N =
√ 1 (− sin u, cos u, −v).
1+v 2
fuu = (−v cos u, −v sin u, 0), f,uv = f,vu = (− sin u, cos u, 0), f,vv =
 
1 01
(0, 0, 0) ⇒ B = √1+v 2
.
10
⎡ ⎤
 1  0 1
3
0
g−1 = 1+v . ⇒ X = g−1 B = ⎣ (1+v 2 ) 2 ⎦
2
(iv) 1 .
0 1 2
1 0
(1+v ) 2
(v) Let w = (a, b) ∈ Tp Σ ⇒ I(w) = w · gw = (1 + v 2 )a2 + b2 .
(vi) II(w) = w · Bw = √2ab 1+v 2
.
12. (i) Catenoid (see Exercise 2): K = − cosh1 4 u < 0 ∀u ⇒ hyperbolic
points.
(ii) Helicoid (see Exercise 11): K = det B 1
det g = − (1+v 2 )2 < 0 ∀v ⇒
hyperbolic points.
⎧ parametric equation of a circular cylinder of radius R → f (u, v) :
13. The
⎨ x1 = R cos v,
x = R sin v, with u = z, v = θ of a system of cylindrical coordinates.
⎩ 2
x3 = u,
 206 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers


u = 0,
Referring to Eq. (7.7), ϕ(u) = R, ψ(u) = u ⇒ Eq. (7.32) is ⇒
v  = 0,

u(t) = αt + α1 ,
with α, α1 , β, β1 = const. If α1 = β1 = 0, we
v(t) = βt + β1 ,
⎧ the geodesic γ(t) passing
get ⎧ through (R, 0, 0) for t = 0 ⇒ γ(t) :
⎨ 1x = R cos v(t), ⎨ 1 R cos(βt),
x =
x2 = R sin v(t), ⇒ x = R sin(βt), ⇒ equation of a helix if
⎩ ⎩ 2
x3 = u(t), x3 = αt,
α, β  = 0, of a circle (cross section) if α = 0, β  = 0, and of a straight
line on the cylinder (generatrix) if α  = 0, β = 0.
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 Index

A
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Cartesian components of a tensor,

adjugate, 35 17
analytical mechanics, 184 Cartesian coordinates, 130
angular velocity, 80 catenary, 100
anisotropic elasticity, 71 catenoid, 145
anomaly, 116, 121 Cauchy–Poisson symmetries, 61
antisymmetry of the cross product, center of the moment, 7
33 central axis, 10
antisymmetry projector, 65 change in parameterization, 143
applied vector, 7 change of basis, 6, 41
arc length, 83 change of parameter, 78
Archimedes’ spiral, 98 Christoffel symbols, 137, 173
asymptotic line, 162 Codazzi conditions, 178
axial tensor, 31 colatitude, 44, 121
axial tensor field, 109 commutation theorem, 30
axial vector, 32 commutativity property, 43
compatibility conditions, 179
B complementary projector, 54, 87
basis, 5, 77, 119 completely symmetric, 61
basis of eigenvectors, 52 compliance tensor, 70
Bertrand’s theorem, 99 components, 118, 127
binormal vector, 85 condition of parallelism, 33
Bonnet’s theorem, 95 cones, 146
conical curves of Dupin, 162
C conical helix, 92
calculus of variations, 183 conjugated directions, 162
canonic equations of a curve, 96 conjugation product, 59
canonical decomposition, 16, 58 continuity, 75
Cartesian components, 5, 117 contravariant components, 128

207
 208 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

coordinate lines, 142 divergence or Gauss theorem, 112

couple, 9 doubly ruled, 146
covariant, 127 dual basis, 132
covariant components, 128 dyad, 16
covariant coordinates, 135 dyadic tensors, 59
covariant derivative, 137, 169
cross product, 32 E
cubic parabola, 97 elasticity tensor, 71
curl, 107
elliptic point, 156
curl of a curl, 110
energy decomposition, 71
curl of an axial vector, 109
Enneper’s surface, 166
curl theorem, 113
envelope, 93–94
curvature of a curve, 86
equiangular property, 98
curvature vector, 151
Euclidean norm, 21, 75
curve of vectors, 75
Euler’s angles, 45
curves of minimal distance, 171
Euler’s rotation representation
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curves of points, 75
theorem, 39
curvilinear abscissa, 83
Euler–Lagrange equations, 172
curvilinear coordinates, 125–126
evolute, 93
cusp, 97
cycloid, 100
F
cylinders, 146
cylindrical basis, 117 first fundamental form, 147
flux theorem, 113
D fourth-rank tensor, 57
Frenet–Serret formula, 88, 91
deformation, 103
Frenet–Serret local basis, 85
derivative, 76
derivative of a point, 76
G
determinant, 22–23
developable surfaces, 158 Gauss condition, 179
deviatoric part, 21 Gauss equations, 164
deviatoric projector, 63 Gauss theorem, 112
diffeomorphism, 143 Gauss’ basis, 163
differentiable function, 80 Gauss–Codazzi compatibility
differentiable vector field, 109 conditions, 174
differential geometry, 184 Gauss–Weingarten equations, 165
differential operators, vi, 121 Gaussian curvature, 153
dilatation factor of the areas, 149 general parameterization, 144
directional derivative, 103 generator line, 146
director cosines, 6, 67 geodesic curvature, 170
distance, 4, 21 geodesics, vii, 169
divergence, 104 global rotation, 47
divergence lemma, 111 gradient, 104
divergence of a tensor field, 104 gradient of the vector field, 137
divergence of products, 107 Green’s formula, 114
 Index 209

H length of the curve, 81

harmonic, 105 line of curvature, 161
harmonic fields, 111 linear application, 15
helicoids, 146 linear combination, 29
Hessian, 104 linear forms representation theorem,
Hooke’s law, 69 13
hyperbolic hyperboloid, 145 linearly independent vectors, 26
hyperbolic paraboloid, 179 local basis, 127
hyperbolic point, 156 logarithmic spiral, 98
longitude, 44
I loxodrome, 145
identity tensor, 15, 135
immersion, 141 M
incompressible flows, 124 Möbius strip, 146
infinitesimal theory of strain, major symmetries, 60
124 map of Gauss, 149
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integral of a curve, 80 material symmetries, 71

intrinsic local characteristic, 84 matrix, 17
intrinsic property, 86 matrix form, 118
invariant under an orthogonal matrix of Cartan, 89
transformation, 68 mean curvature, 153
inverse of a tensor, 22 meridian, 144
invertibility theorem, 26 metric, 75
invertible tensor, 26 metric tensor, 127
involute, 93–94 minimal surfaces, vii, 166
irrotational, 124 Minkowski’s inequality, 82
isochoric, 124 minor right symmetries, 61
isomorphism, 30 minor symmetries, 61
isotropic, 68 mirror symmetries, 37
mixed components, 133
K mixed coordinates, 135
Kelvin formalism, 69 mixed product, 34
kinematics of rigid bodies, 123 moment of the couple, 9
knots line, 45 monkey’s saddle, 157
Kronecker’s delta, 5 multiplicity, 30
mutually orthogonal subspaces,
L 22
Lamé’s parameters, 174
Laplace’s equation, 27 N
laplacian, 105, 110, 120 natural basis, 142
laplacian of products, 110 natural parameter, 83
left minor symmetries, 61 Navier–Stokes equations, 107
left polar decomposition, 53 norm of a vector, 4
lemma of divergence, 112 normal basis, 28
lemma of Ricci, 140 normal curvature, 151
 210 Tensor Algebra and Analysis for Engineers

normal plane, 85, 152 principal directions, 153

normal section, 152 principal invariants, 25
normal to the surface, 141 principal normal, 94
normal variation, 167–168 principal normal vector, 84
null form, 23 profile curve, 146
null Gaussian curvature, 158 proper rotations, 37
null tensor, 15 proper space, 27
nutation, 45 pseudo-scalar, 51
pseudo-sphere, 145
O pseudo-vector, 51
operator nabla, 115
orientation of a basis, 35 Q
orientation of the space, 37 quadratic form, 28–29
origin, 77
orthogonal conjugator, 66 R
orthogonal projector, 54, 65 radius of curvature, 92
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orthogonal tensors, 36 raising of the indices, 131

orthogonality conditions, 133 re-parameterization, 82
orthogonality property, 33, 88 rectangular coordinates, 125
orthonormal, 38 rectifying plane, 85
orthonormal basis, 40 reflexion tensor, 50
osculating circle, 92 regular curve, 81, 83, 170
osculating plane, 85 regular point, 141
osculating sphere, 91 regular region, 113
resultant, 7
P resultant moment, 9
parabola, 97 rhumb line, 145
parabolic point, 156 Ricci’s alternator, 25
parallel, 144 right polar decomposition, 53
parallel vector field, 169 rigid displacement, 96
parameter, 76 rotation, 36
parametric point equation, 78 rotation axis, 39
parametric vector equation, 78 rotation of the space, 42
partial derivative, 104 rotation tensor, 36
partition, 82 rotation’s amplitude, 39
permutation, 25 ruled surface of the normals, 162
planar point, 153 ruled surface of the tangents, 159
polar decomposition, 51 ruled surfaces, 146
polar decomposition theorem, 53
polar formalism, 71 S
position vector, 78 scalar, 3
positive definiteness, 3 scalar field, 103
potential theorem, 114 scalar product, 20
precession, 45 scalar product of fourth-rank tensors,
principal curvatures, 153 62
 Index 211

Schwarz’s inequality, 4 tensor field, 103

Schwarz’s surfaces, 166 tensor invariant, 20
scroll, 146 tensor product, 16, 17
second fundamental form, 150 tensor scalar product, 21
second gradient, 104 tensor theory, vi
second principal invariant, 55 tensor-invariant, 23
second-order derivatives, 178 tensors, 15
second-rank tensor, 15 theorem of Binet, 24
semigeodesic coordinates, 170 theorem of Rodrigues, 154, 175
similitude of the triangles, 176 theorema egregium, 165
skew tensor, 19 theoretical mechanics, 183
skew trilinear form, 24 torsion, 90
small rotations, 49 torsion of the curve, 89
spatial derivatives of fields, 135 trace, 19
spectral theorem, 28 trace for fourth-rank tensors, 62
spectrum, 27 tractrix, 101
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sphere, 145 translation, 1

spherical coordinates, 120 transport of moment, 8
spherical part, 21 transpose, 18
spherical projector, 63 transpose of a fourth-rank tensor, 60
spin tensor, 80 transposition projector, 65
square root theorem, 51 transpositions, 25
Stokes theorem, 114
streamlines, 105 U
support, 141 umbilical point, 153
surface in E, 141 uniqueness, 11, 52
surface of revolution, 143 uniqueness of the inverse, 26
symmetric tensor, 18
symmetry, 3
V
symmetry projector, 65
vector, 1–2
T vector field, 103
vector space, 2
tangent plane, 142
vorticity equation, 110
tangent vector, 84, 142
tangent vector space, 142
W
tensor algebra and analysis,
183 Weingarten operator, 150