On Isotropic Invariants of the Elasticity Tensor

Abstract

Isotropic invariants of the elasticity tensor always yield the same values no matter what coordinate system is concerned and therefore they characterize the linear elasticity of a solid material intrinsically. There exists a finite set of invariants of the elasticity tensor such that each invariant of the elasticity tensor can be expressed as a single-valued function of this set. Such a set, called a basis of invariants of the elasticity tensor, can be used to realize a parametrization of the manifold of orbits of elastic moduli, i.e. to distinguish different kinds of linear elastic materials. Seeking such a basis is an old problem in theory of invariants and seems to have been unsuccessful until now. In this paper, by means of the unique spectral decomposition of the elasticity tensor every invariant of the elasticity tensor is shown to be a joint invariant of the eigenprojections of the elasticity tensor, and then by utilizing some properties of the eigenprojections a basis for each case concerning the multiplicity of the eigenvalues of the elasticity tensor is presented in terms of joint invariants of the eigenprojections. In addition to the foregoing properties, the presented invariants may also be used to form invariant criteria for identification of elastic symmetry axes.