In continuum mechanics, the finite strain theory—also called large strain theory, or large deformation theory—deals with deformations in which strains and/or rotations are large enough to invalidate assumptions inherent in infinitesimal strain theory. In this case, the undeformed and deformed configurations of the continuum are significantly different, requiring a clear distinction between them. This is commonly the case with elastomers, plastically-deforming materials and other fluids and biological soft tissue.
Displacement field
Deformation gradient tensor
The deformation gradient tensor is related to both the reference and current configuration, as seen by the unit vectors and , therefore it is a two-point tensor. Two types of deformation gradient tensor may be defined.
Due to the assumption of continuity of , has the inverse , where is the spatial deformation gradient tensor. Then, by the implicit function theorem, the Jacobian determinant must be nonsingular, i.e.
The material deformation gradient tensor is a second-order tensor that represents the gradient of the mapping function or functional relation , which describes the motion of a continuum. The material deformation gradient tensor characterizes the local deformation at a material point with position vector , i.e., deformation at neighbouring points, by transforming (linear transformation) a material line element emanating from that point from the reference configuration to the current or deformed configuration, assuming continuity in the mapping function , i.e. differentiable function of and time , which implies that cracks and voids do not open or close during the deformation. Thus we have,
Relative displacement vector
Consider a particle or material point with position vector in the undeformed configuration (Figure 2). After a displacement of the body, the new position of the particle indicated by in the new configuration is given by the vector position . The coordinate systems for the undeformed and deformed configuration can be superimposed for convenience.
Consider now a material point neighboring , with position vector . In the deformed configuration this particle has a new position given by the position vector . Assuming that the line segments and joining the particles and in both the undeformed and deformed configuration, respectively, to be very small, then we can express them as and . Thus from Figure 2 we have
where is the relative displacement vector, which represents the relative displacement of with respect to in the deformed configuration.
Taylor approximation
For an infinitesimal element , and assuming continuity on the displacement field, it is possible to use a Taylor series expansion around point , neglecting higher-order terms, to approximate the components of the relative displacement vector for the neighboring particle as
Thus, the previous equation can be written as
Time-derivative of the deformation gradient
Calculations that involve the time-dependent deformation of a body often require a time derivative of the deformation gradient to be calculated. A geometrically consistent definition of such a derivative requires an excursion into differential geometry but we avoid those issues in this article.
The time derivative of is
where is the (material) velocity. The derivative on the right hand side represents a material velocity gradient. It is common to convert that into a spatial gradient by applying the chain rule for derivatives, i.e.,
where is the spatial velocity gradient and where is the spatial (Eulerian) velocity at . If the spatial velocity gradient is constant in time, the above equation can be solved exactly to give
assuming at . There are several methods of computing the exponential above.
Related quantities often used in continuum mechanics are the rate of deformation tensor and the spin tensor defined, respectively, as:
The rate of deformation tensor gives the rate of stretching of line elements while the spin tensor indicates the rate of rotation or vorticity of the motion.
The material time derivative of the inverse of the deformation gradient (keeping the reference configuration fixed) is often required in analyses that involve finite strains. This derivative is
The above relation can be verified by taking the material time derivative of and noting that .