The Infinitesimal Theory

The fundamental quantities in elasticity are second-order tensors, or dyadicx the deformation is represented by the strain thudte. and the internal forces are represented by Ihe stress dyadic. The physical constitution of the defurmuble body determines ihe relation between the strain dyadic and the stress dyadic, which relation is. in the infinitesimal theory, assumed lo be linear and homogeneous. While for anisotropic bodies this relation may involve as much as 21 independent constants, in the euse of isotropic bodies, the number of elastic constants is reduced lo two. 

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