Continuum Mechanics For Engineers By Dr.
Djomo Mbong
TUTORIAL 1:
Continuum Theory and Essential Mathematics
Exercise 1:
Let v a b , or in indicial notation,
vi ei a j e j bk ek ijk a j bk ei
Using indicial notation, show that,
1- v v a 2b 2 sin 2
2- a b a 0
3- a b b 0
Exercise 2:
Let the position vector of an arbitrary point P x1 , x2 , x3 be x xi ei , and let b bi ei be a
constant vector. Show that x b x 0 is the vector equation of a spherical surface having
1 b
its center at x b with a radius of .
2 2
Exercise 3:
Expand the following expressions involving Kronecker deltas, and simplify where possible.
(a) ij ij , (b) ij jk ki , (c) ij jk , (d) ij Aik
Exercise 4:
By summing on the repeated subscripts determine the simplest form of
(a) 3 jk a j ak , (b) ijk kj , (c) 1 jk a2Tkj , (d) 1 jk 3 j vk
Exercise 5:
If Aij ij Bkk 3 Bij , determine Bkk and using that solve for Bij in terms of Aij and its
first invariant, Aii .
Exercise 6:
The angles between the respective axes of the Ox1 x 2 x 3 and the Ox1 x 2 x 3 Cartesian systems
are given by the table below
x1 x2 x3
x1 45° 90° 45°
x2 60° 45° 120°
x3 120° 45° 60°
1
Chapter One: Continuum Theory and Essential Mathematics
Determine
1- The transformation matrix between the two sets of axes, and show that it is a proper
orthogonal transformation.
2- The equation of the plane x1 x2 x3 1 2 in its primed axes form, that is, in the
form b1 x1 b2 x2 b3 x3 b .
Exercise 7:
For the matrix representation of tensor B shown below,
17 0 0
Bij 0 23 28
0 28 10
Determine the principal values (eigenvalues) and the principal directions (eigenvectors) of the
tensor.
Exercise 8:
Consider the symmetrical matrix
5 2 0 3 2
Bij 0 4 0
3 2 0 5 2
1- Show that a multiplicity of two occurs among the principal values of this matrix.
2- Let 1 be the unique principal value and show that the transformation matrix
1 2 0 1 2
aij 0 1 0
1 2 1 2
0
gives B* according to Bij* aiq a jm Bqm
3- Taking the square root of Bij* and transforming back to Ox1 x 2 x 3 axes show that
3 2 0 1 2
Bij 0 2 0
1 2 0 3 2
4- Verify that the matrix
1 2 0 3 2
C ij 0 2 0
3 2 0 1 2
is also a square root of Bij .
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Continuum Mechanics For Engineers By Dr. Djomo Mbong
Exercise 9:
Determine the principal values q q 1,2,3 and principal directions n q 1, 2, 3
q
for the symmetric matrix
3 1 2 1 2
1
Tij 1 2 9 2 3 2
2
1 2 3 2 9 2
Exercise 10:
Consider the vector x xi ei having a magnitude squared x 2 x12 x22 x32 . Determine
(a) grad x (b) grad x n
(c) 2 1 x (d) div x x
n
(e) rot x x , where n is a positive integer.
n