Kinematics of small and large deformations of continua

Abstract

The kinematics of small and large deformations (displacements, rotations and strains) is described by use of the engineering strain, the logarithmic strain, the Seth‐Hill class of strains and the rate‐type strains derived using the Lagrangian and the ‘Relative’ descriptions. The displacement gradient is computed for two and three dimensions and the error associated with use of the small rotation approximation is plotted. The components of the rotation tensor are derived for a four‐noded isoparametric quadrilateral finite element for determining the error due to small displacement and rotation approximations. Finally, the various strain measures are computed and plotted for representative problems.