Tensor Algebra and Tensor Analysis for Engineers: With Applications to Continuum Mechanics - Hardcover

From the reviews: "Most books on continuum mechanics begin with a more or less lengthy introduction into this mere mathematical topic. a ] With the present introduction to tensors, Itskov has filled this gap. a ] It is written in a clear and modern style a ] . contains a lot of interesting representations, which will be appreciated by researchers in the field. a ] All in all, the book can be clearly recommended both for students and researchers in the field of continuum mechanics." (Technische Mechanik, Vol. 28 (3), 2008)

There is a large gap between the engineering course in tensor algebra on the one hand and the treatment of linear transformations within classical linear algebra on the other hand. The aim of the book is to bridge this gap by means of the consequent and fundamental exposition. The book is addressed primarily to engineering students with some initial knowledge of matrix algebra. Thereby the mathematical formalism is applied as far as it is absolutely necessary. Numerous exercises provided in the book are accompanied by solutions enabling an autonomous study. The last chapters of the book deal with modern developments in the theory of isotropic an anisotropic tensor functions and their applications to continuum mechanics and might therefore be of high interest for PhD-students and scientists working in this area. In the last decades, the absolute notation for tensors has become widely accepted and is now a current state of the art for publications in solid and structural mechanics. This is opposed to a majority of books on tensor calculus referring to index notation. The latter one complicates the understanding of the matter especially for readers with initial knowledge. Thus, this book aims at being a modern textbook on tensor calculus for engineers in line with the contemporary way of scientific publications.