Two-point tensors, or double vectors, are tensor-like quantities which transform as Euclidean vectors with respect to each of their indices. They are used in continuum mechanics to transform between reference ("material") and present ("configuration") coordinates.[1] Examples include the deformation gradient and the first Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor.
As with many applications of tensors, Einstein summation notation is frequently used. To clarify this notation, capital indices are often used to indicate reference coordinates and lowercase for present coordinates. Thus, a two-point tensor will have one capital and one lower-case index; for example, AjM.
A conventional tensor can be viewed as a transformation of vectors in one coordinate system to other vectors in the same coordinate system. In contrast, a two-point tensor transforms vectors from one coordinate system to another. That is, a conventional tensor,
Q=Qpq(ep ⊗ eq)
v=Qu
In contrast, a two-point tensor, G will be written as
G=Gpq(ep ⊗ Eq)
v=GU
Suppose we have two coordinate systems one primed and another unprimed and a vectors' components transform between them as
v'p=Qpqvq
Tpq(ep ⊗ eq)
ei
T'pq(e'p ⊗ e'q)
T'ij=QipQjrTpr
T'=QTQT
Fpq(e'p ⊗ eq)
F'=QF
The most mundane example of a two-point tensor is the transformation tensor, the Q in the above discussion. Note that
v'p=Qpquq
u=uqeq
v=v'pe'p
Qpq(e'p ⊗ eq)
upep=(Qpq(e'p ⊗ eq))(vqeq)
upep=Qpqvq(e'p ⊗ eq)eq
upep=Qpqvqep