A general deformation matrix for three-dimensions

A deformation that is obtained by any simultaneous combination of two steady-state progressive deformations: simple shearing and a coaxial progressive deformation, involving or not a volume change, can be expressed by a single transformation, or deformation matrix. In the general situation of simple shearing in a direction non-orthogonal with the principal strains of the coaxial progressive deformation, this deformation matrix is a function of the strain components and the orientation of shearing. In this example, two coordinate systems are defined: one for the coaxial progressive deformation (x_i system), where the principal and intermediate strains are two horizontal coordinate axes, and another for the simple shear (x _i ^t’ system), with any orientation in space. For steady-state progressive deformations, from the direction cosines matrix that defines the orientation of shear strains in the x_i coordinate system, an asymmetric finite-deformation matrix is derived. From this deformation matrix, the orientation and ellipticity of the strain ellipse, or the strain ellipsoid for three-dimensional deformations, can be determined. This deformation matrix also can be described as a combination of a rigid-body rotation and a stretching represented by a general coaxial progressive deformation. The kinematic vorticity number (W _k is derived for the general deformation matrix to characterize the non-coaxiality of the three-dimensional deformation. An application of the deformation matrix concept is given as an example, analyzing the changes in orientation and stretching that variously-oriented passive linear markers undergo after a general two-dimensional deformation. The influence of the kinematic vorticity number, the simple and pure shear strains, and the obliquity between the two deformation components, on the linear marker distribution after deformation is discussed.