JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL AND APPLIED MECHANICS 43, 4, pp. 825-840, Warsaw 2005 ON THE MATERIAL AND SPATIAL DESCRIPTION OF RIGID FIELDS1 Marek Rudnicki Faculty of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology e-mail: marr@siwy.il.pw.edu.pl Rigidkinematics is re-examinedapplying thematerial, spatial andmixed descriptionwithout use of any coordinate system. Some tensor represen- tations for the displacement gradient, velocity gradient, and acceleration gradient are obtained. Special cases of rotation about fixed as well as nearly fixed axis are distinguished. Assumption of small rotation is also taken into account. Relative motion of a particle is briefly described. Key words: kinematics, rigid body, material and spatial description, relative motion 1. Introduction Themostpart of appliedmechanics is studyof deformingbodies.Neverthe- less, rigidfieldsplay a significant role inmechanics. Firstly, everyhomogeneous deformation may be, in general, composed of stretch, translation, and rota- tion, the last two of which being the evident parts of rigid deformation. Next, an infinitesimal rigid displacement is involved in the fundamental theorem of virtual work (cf. Gurtin, 1981). In theory of plasticity, the rigidplastic model ofmaterials is applied. Last but not least, a rigid body itselfmay be a satisfac- tory idealization in many branches of mechanics, e.g., in celestial mechanics, in theory ofmachines,mechanisms anddevices (position analysis, collapse), in robotics (cf. Nwokah andHurmuzlu, 2002). The notion of rigidity is exploited within both classical kinematics as well as theory of microstructure bodies. ”The assumption of rigidity was the key step...” (cf. Uicker et al., 2003). 1 See also:Material and spatial description of rigid fields, XIIIConference on ”Theoretical Foundations of Civil Engineering”, Dnepropetrovsk-Warsaw, June 2005, Polish-Ukrainian Transactions, 571-578 826 M.Rudnicki Thematerial and spatial description are two well-known basic approaches applied in continuum mechanics. However, the simultaneous use of both of them is not frequent. Typically, as far as rigid continua are concerned, the spatial description is used (cf., e.g., Gurtin andWilliams, 1976; Wang, 1979). Some authors employ a vector (indicial) notation without any use of tensors (cf. Easthope, 1964). The main purpose of this work is to provide a refreshing comparison of the material and spatial description by an example of the simplest material. We carry out both descriptions parallel one to another. Appropriate mixed relations are also provided. In order to simplify the notations, we do not use any coordinate system in the physical space. Although the indicial notation ”kills two birds with one stone”, i.e., coordinate generality and specificity (cf. Papastavridis, 1998), at the same time can overshadow to some extent the subject being considered. The paper is entirely confined to ”kinematics which unencumbered by physical restrictions can provide the preliminary light” (see Truesdell and Toupin, 1960), however, no doubt, some theoretical aspects of rigid body dynamics are still worthy of attention (cf. Sławianowski, 2004). 2. Deformation A rigid deformation on any set of points can be extended to form a global rigid deformation on all of the physical space. Thus, consider an orientation- preserving isometry χ : E → E, where E is an oriented three-dimensional Euclidean point space called a physical space endowed with the translation space V. The deformation gradient is then a constantmapping gradχ : E → →L(E,V⊗V), where at every point gradχ is a proper orthogonal tensor. The vector-valued displacement field is defined by u m(A)= χ(A)−A =us(χ(A)) (2.1) u s(A)= A−χ−1(A)=um(χ−1(A)) where A is a general point of the physical space, and superscripts m and s indicate the material and spatial description, respectively. By virtue of (2.1), the corresponding displacement gradients are gradum =R−1 gradus =1−R> (2.2) where 1∈V⊗V stands for the identity tensor. On the material and spatial description... 827 Given any point P , so-called base point (cf. Easthope, 1964), we can de- compose the mapping χ as follows χ = κP ◦ϑP (2.3) where ϑP : E →E is rotation with P fixed, while κP : E →E is translation with the translation vector equal to the translation vector of point P , i.e., ϑP(P)= P κP(P)=χ(P) (2.4) Precisely, for every A ∈E ϑP(A) = P +R[A−P ] κP(A)= A+wP (2.5) where wP =u m(P) R= gradχ(A)= gradϑP(A) (2.6) Generally, it takes six coordinates to characterize a particular χ, namely three ones to characterize wP andnext three to characterize R.Making use of (2.5) and (2.6), we replace (2.3) by χ(A)= P +wP +R[A−P ] = ϑP(A)+u m(P)= ϑP(A)+κP(A)−A (2.7) Hence um(A)=um(A;ϑP)+u m(A;κP) (2.8) where the first term in the right hand side of (2.8) represents the displacement due to rotation ϑP , whereas the second term represents the displacement due to translation κP , i.e. um(A;ϑP)= ϑP(A)−A u m(A;κP)= κP(A)−A (2.9) The inverse of (2.3) is χ−1 =(κP ◦ϑP) −1 =(ϑP) −1 ◦ (κP) −1 (2.10) where (κP) −1(A)= A−wP (ϑP) −1(A) =P +R>[A−P ] (2.11) After obvious transformations, we obtain (cf. (2.7)) χ−1(A)= P +R>[A−P −wP ] = P −R >wP +R >[A−P ] = (2.12) = (ϑP) −1(A)+R>[(κP) −1(A)−A] 828 M.Rudnicki Hence u s(A)= A−(ϑP) −1(A)+R>[A−(κP) −1(A)] = (1−R>)[A−P ]+R>wP (2.13) On comparing (2.8) and (2.13), and taking (2.5) into account, both forms of the displacement are related with each other by u s =R>um um =Rus (2.14) whereas the corresponding displacement gradients transform to each other by gradum =−(gradus)> =Rgradus =(gradus)R (2.15) gradus =−(gradum)> =R>gradum =(gradum)R> Weobserve that the symmetric parts of (2.15)1 and (2.15)2 are opposite, whe- reas the skew parts coincide, i.e. sym gradum+sym gradus =0 (2.16) skw gradum =skw gradus 3. Motion Let T = [a,b)⊂R be a set of real numbers which correspond to time in- stants. Rigidmotion during the time interval T is amapping χ : E×T →E, where χ(A,t) is a position of a point A at the time t. Analogously, the displa- cements as well as other resulting fields are functions of two arguments. The mapping χ when restricted to a given time t constitutes global deformation at the time t, andwhen restricted to a given point A describesmotion of the point A. In the subsequent analysis, the rotation tensor is a key quantity. Following the orthogonality of R and taking into account that the time differentiating commutes with the transpose operation, we have ∂tR > =−R>(∂tR)R > (3.1) ∂2tR > =R> ( 2(∂tR)R >(∂tR)R >− (∂2tR)R > ) where ∂t means time differentiation. On the material and spatial description... 829 Material description The velocity vm and the acceleration am are determined by vm = ∂tu m am = ∂tv m = ∂2tu m (3.2) Knowing that the partial time differentiation commutes with the gradient operation, the corresponding velocity gradients are gradvm = ∂tgradu m = ∂tR (3.3) gradam = ∂tgradv m = ∂2t gradu m = ∂2tR Note that themoving centrode inplanarmotion consists of points forwhich vm =0. Spatial description Unlike in thematerial description, the velocity vs and the acceleration as are defined with the use of appropriate field gradients, i.e., vs = ∂tu s+(gradus)vs as = ∂tv s+(gradvs)vs (3.4) where ∂t means time differentiation with the point fixed. Taking the gradient of (3.4), results in gradvs = ∂tgradu s+(gradus)gradvs (3.5) gradas = ∂tgradv s+(gradvs)gradvs Making use of (3.1), the first and the second time rates of the displacement gradient are ∂tgradu s =R>(∂tR)R > (3.6) ∂2t gradu s =R> ( (∂2tR)R >−2(∂tR)R >(∂tR)R > ) Rearranging (3.4)1, and next carrying the gradient operation, after the use of (3.6)1, we simplify (3.4)1 and (3.5)1 to v s =R∂tu s gradvs =R∂tgradu s =(∂tR)R > (3.7) Introducing (3.7)1 into (3.4)2, and (3.7)2 into (3.5)2 we find as =R∂2tu s+2(∂tR)∂tu s (3.8) gradas =R∂2t gradu s+2(∂tR)∂tgradu s =(∂2tR)R > 830 M.Rudnicki With the aid of (3.1), the velocity gradient and the acceleration gradient can be easily decomposed into the symmetric and skew-symmetric parts, i.e., sym gradvs =0 skw gradvs =(∂tR)R > sym gradas =(gradvs)gradvs =(∂tR)∂tgradu s =(∂tR)R >(∂tR)R > (3.9) skw gradas = ∂tgradv s =R∂2t gradu s+(∂tR)∂tgradu s = =(∂2tR− (∂tR)R >(∂tR))R > In a consequence of (3.9)1, the following identities are satisfied (gradvs)vs =− 1 2 grad(vs •vs) (3.10) tr[(gradvs)gradvs] =−gradvs • gradvs where the symbol ”•” denotes the inner product of two vectors or two tensors (cf. Gurtin 1981). Note that the fixed centrode in planarmotion consists of points for which vs =0. Mixed relations The ”cross” formulas relating velocity and displacement, i.e., the velocity in the material form and the displacement in the spatial form or vice versa, after using (2.14), can be written down as follows v m =R∂tu s+(gradvm)us vs = ∂tu m− (gradvs)um a m =R∂2tu s+2(gradvm)∂tu s+(gradam)us (3.11) as = ∂2tu m− (gradas)um The gradients of thematerial and spatial forms of the velocity and accele- ration are related by, respectively gradvm =(gradvs)R gradvs =(gradvm)R> (3.12) gradam =(gradas)R gradas =(gradam)R> Subtraction of the material and spatial form of the velocity and the acce- leration yields, respectively v m−vs =(gradvm)us =(gradvs)um (3.13) a m−as =(gradam)us =(gradas)um On the material and spatial description... 831 4. Representations 4.1. Vector-valued fields The spatial dependence of kinematical fields has the form (the second argument t is omitted) um(A)=um(P)+(R−1)(A−P) us(A)=us(P)+(1−R>)(A−P) vm(A)=vm(P)+∂tR(A−P) v s(A)=vs(P)+∂tRR >(A−P) am(A)=am(P)+∂2tR(A−P) a s(A)=as(P)+∂2tRR >(A−P) (4.1) whilst the constant terms in (4.1) are equal to (cf. (2.14)), respectively um(P)=w =Rws us(P)=ws =R>w v m(P)= ∂tw = ∂tRw s+R∂tw s v s(P)=R∂tw s = ∂tw−∂tRR > w (4.2) am(P)= ∂2tw =R∂ 2 tw s+2∂tR∂tw s+∂2tRw s as(P)=R∂2tw s+2∂tR∂tw s = ∂2tw−∂ 2 tRR >w Appropriate representations for the tensors involved in (4.1) are derived in the sequel. 4.2. Rotation-related tensors The most general rotation If ϕ is an angle of rotation, and i is a unit vector parallel to the axis of rotation, then the rotation tensor admits the following representation R=exp(Φ) Φ=−Eϕ ϕ =− 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗Φ) ϕ= ϕi i• i=1 (4.3) where Emeans an alternating third-order tensor (theRicci tensor), tr (2,4)(3,5) indicates the appropriate double contraction operation. Thus, Φ is a skew tensor the axial vector of which, named the rotation vector, is ϕ. In a result symR=1+(cosϕ−1)(1−i⊗i) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗R)=−sinϕi (4.4) The vector presented by (4.4)2 is the axial vector corresponding to the skew part of the rotation tensor. Once the representation of R is established, the 832 M.Rudnicki related tensors can be put in the analogous formulas. However, before doing that we disclose some useful identities. Namely, constancy of the magnitude of the i implies the following conditions i•∂ti=0 i•∂ 2 t i+∂ti•∂ti=0 (4.5) which allow for (Ei)(Ei)= i⊗ i−1 (E∂ti)(Ei)= i⊗∂ti (4.6) (E∂2t i)(Ei)= i⊗∂ 2 t i+(∂ti•∂ti)1 and skw ( (E∂ti)i⊗ i ) = 1 2 E∂ti skw((Ei)∂ti⊗∂ti)= 1 2 (∂ti•∂ti)Ei (4.7) skw((E∂2t i)i⊗ i)= 1 2 (E∂2t i+(∂ti•∂ti)Ei) Successive differentiation of (4.4) yields sym∂tR= ∂tϕsinϕ(i⊗ i−1)+2(1− cosϕ)sym(i⊗∂ti) (4.8) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗ skw∂tR)=−∂tϕcosϕi− sinϕ∂ti and sym∂2tR=(∂ 2 tϕsinϕ+(∂tϕ) 2 cosϕ)(i⊗ i−1)+ +2(1− cosϕ)sym(∂ti⊗∂ti)+ +4∂tϕsinϕsym(i⊗∂ti)+2(1− cosϕ)sym(i⊗∂ 2 t i) (4.9) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗∂ 2 tR)= = (−∂2tϕcosϕ+(∂tϕ) 2 sinϕ)i−2∂tϕcosϕ∂ti− sinϕ∂ 2 t i The axial vector ω, called the angular velocity, corresponding to the skew tensor (∂tR)R > is equal to ω =− 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗((∂tR)R >))= ∂tϕi+sinϕ∂ti+(1−cosϕ)i×∂ti (4.10) On the material and spatial description... 833 The symmetrical part, and the axial vector γ, called the angular acceleration, corresponding to the skew part of the tensor ∂2tRR > take the form sym(∂2tRR >)= (Eω)(Eω)=ω⊗ω− (ω •ω)1= =(i⊗ i−1) ( (∂tϕ) 2+(∂ti•∂ti)sin 2ϕ ) +2(∂tϕ)sinϕsym(i⊗∂ti)+ +2(1− cosϕ) ( sym(i×∂ti)⊗ (∂tϕi+sinϕ∂ti)+cosϕ(∂ti⊗∂ti)+ − (∂ti•∂ti)i⊗ i ) (4.11) γ = ∂tω =− 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗ ((∂ 2 tR)R >))= ∂2tϕi+ + ∂tϕ(1+cosϕ)∂ti+sinϕ∂ 2 t i+∂tϕsinϕi×∂ti+(1− cosϕ)i×∂ 2 t i The advantage of the spatial description consists in the skewity of the velocity gradient as well as in the dependence of the symmetrical part of the acceleration gradient on the skew tensor, i.e., Eω (cf. (4.11)1). Thereby, every non-constant component of both the velocity and acceleration representations (4.1)4,6 can be expressed entirely with the use of the vector product of two vectors instead of the tensor product of a tensor and a vector. Explicitly (∂tR)R >(A−P)=ω× (A−P) (4.12) (∂2tR)R >(A−P)=ω× (ω× (A−P))+γ× (A−P) Rotation about nearly fixed axis Let (i1,i2,i3) be a fixed orthonormal basis in V. Assume that i= i3+ψ ψ = ψ1i1+ψ2i2 (4.13) where ψ is a time-dependent small vector. Hence ∂ti= ∂tψ ∂ 2 t i= ∂ 2 tψ (4.14) Now that, (4.3)5 and (4.5) change to ψ •ψ =0 ψ •∂tψ =0 (4.15) ψ •∂2tψ+∂tψ •∂tψ =0 Thus, retaining ψ and its time derivatives in the corresponding equations, we make the errors of the order of O(ψ2), O(ψ∂tψ), and O(ψ∂ 2 t ψ+∂tψ∂tψ), 834 M.Rudnicki where ψ = ‖ψ‖, respectively. Bymeans of (4.13), the assertions (4.4) become symR=1+(cosϕ−1) ( 1− i3⊗ i3−2sym(ψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ 2) ) (4.16) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗R)=−sinϕ(i3+ψ) Carrying out time differentiation twice over, we obtain sym∂tR= ∂tϕsinϕ ( i3⊗ i3−1+2sym(ψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ 2) ) + +2(1− cosϕ) ( sym(i3⊗∂tψ)+O(ψ∂tψ) ) (4.17) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗∂tR)= ∂tϕcosϕ(i3+ψ)+sinϕ∂tψ and next sym∂2tR= ( ∂2tϕsinϕ+(∂tϕ) 2 cosϕ )( i3⊗ i3−1+sym(ψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ 2) ) + +4∂tϕsinϕ ( sym(∂tψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ∂tψ) ) + +2(1− cosϕ) ( sym(∂2tψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ∂ 2 tψ+∂tψ∂tψ) ) (4.18) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗∂ 2 tR)= ( ∂2tϕcosϕ− (∂tϕ) 2 sinϕ ) (i3+ψ)+ +2∂tϕcosϕ∂tψ+sinϕ∂ 2 tψ The angular velocity has the form ω = ∂tϕ(i3+ψ)+sinϕ∂tψ+(1− cosϕ) ( (i3×∂tψ)+O(ψ∂tψ) ) (4.19) At last, using (4.19), we find (Eω)(Eω)= ( i3⊗ i3−1+2sym(ψ⊗ i3)+O(ψ 2) ) (∂tϕ) 2+ +2(∂tϕ)sinϕsym(∂tψ⊗ i3)+ +2(1− cosϕ)(∂tϕ)sym ( (i3×∂tψ)⊗ i3 ) +O(∂tψ∂tψ)+(∂tϕ)O(ψ∂tψ) (4.20) γ = ∂2tϕ(i3+ψ)+∂tϕ(1+cosϕ)∂tψ+sinϕ∂ 2 tψ+ + ∂tϕsinϕ ( i3×∂tψ+O(ψ∂tψ) ) +(1− cosϕ) ( i3×∂ 2 tψ+O(ψ∂ 2 t ψ) ) On the material and spatial description... 835 Rotation about fixed axis Setting ψ = 0 as well as ∂tψ = 0 and ∂ 2 tψ = 0 in the appropriate equations inferred previously, in other words, assuming i= i3 (4.21) we can examine the case in which the axis of rotation is time-independent. Particularly, now the rotation tensor is represented by symR= cosϕ1+(1− cosϕ)i3⊗ i3 (4.22) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗R)= sinϕi3 Relations (4.17) simplify to sym∂tR= ∂tϕsinϕ(i3⊗ i3−1) (4.23) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗∂tR)= ∂tϕcosϕi3 and (4.18) change to sym∂2tR=(∂ 2 tϕsinϕ+(∂tϕ) 2 cosϕ)(i3⊗ i3−1) (4.24) 1 2 tr(2,4)(3,5)(E⊗∂ 2 tR)= (∂ 2 tϕcosϕ− (∂tϕ) 2 sinϕ)i3 The angular velocity attains a simple form ω = ∂tϕ= ∂tϕi3 (4.25) Similarly, (4.20) can be written down as (Eω)(Eω)= (i3⊗ i3−1)(∂tϕ) 2 γ = ∂2tϕ = ∂ 2 tϕi3 (4.26) 5. Simplifications due to zero-angle of rotation When the angle of rotation ϕ at a certain time attains zero then the rotation tensor is equal to the identity tensor at this time (cf. (4.4)), i.e., ϕ =0 R=1 (5.1) 836 M.Rudnicki Thus, thedeformation χ is purely a translation.Time rates of thedeformation tensor reduce to ∂tR=Eω ∂ 2 tR=(∂tR)(∂tR)+Eγ (5.2) where ω = ∂tϕi γ = ∂ 2 tϕi+2∂tϕ∂ti (5.3) In particular, assumptions (5.1) are satisfied when the current configuration is taken to be the reference configuration, i.e., the deformation is the identity transformation (cf. Wang, 1979). An obvious consequence of (5.1) is that both the displacement fields are constant and coincide at every point (cf. (2.14) and (2.15)) u s =um ≡u gradu=0 (5.4) The appropriate equations regarding the material description do not un- dergo any change. However, the equations relating the spatial description of the displacement, velocity and acceleration simplify to v s = ∂tu s ∂tv s = ∂2tu s+(∂tR)v s (5.5) a s = ∂tv s+(∂tR)v s = ∂2tu s+2(∂tR)v s Subtracting the material and spatial description of the velocity and acce- leration, we find vm−vs = ∂tu m−∂tu s =(∂tR)u a m−as =(∂2tR)u (5.6) whereas ∂tv m−∂tv s =(∂2tR)u+(∂tR)v s (5.7) ∂2tu m−∂2tu s =(∂2tR)u+2(∂tR)v s Taking the gradient of (5.6), it follows gradvm = gradvs = grad∂tu m = grad∂tu s gradam = gradas (5.8) while, in turn, (5.7) leads to grad∂tv m− grad∂tv s =(∂tR)(∂tR) (5.9) grad∂2tu m− grad∂2tu s =2(∂tR)(∂tR) On the material and spatial description... 837 6. Motion assuming small rotation Nowassume that ϕbe small, i.e., turningback todeformation (2.3), ϑP be small. Then R, being equal to gradϑP (in fact, independent of P), reduces as follows (cf. (4.4), (4.8), (4.9)) R=1+Φ+O(ϕ2)=1+O(ϕ) (6.1) where Φ is a small skew tensor. Making use of (6.1), we find R−1=Φ(1+O(ϕ)) 1−R> =Φ(1+O(ϕ)) ∂tR= ∂tΦ(1+O(ϕ)) ∂tRR > = ∂tΦ(1+O(ϕ)) ∂2tR= ∂ 2 tΦ(1+O(ϕ)) ∂ 2 tRR > = ∂2tφ(1+O(ϕ)) (6.2) Similarly ω = ∂tϕ(1+O(ϕ)) γ = ∂tω(1+O(ϕ)) (6.3) With the aid of (6.1) and (6.2), relations (2.14) and (3.13) change to us =um(1+O(ϕ)) vm−vs = ∂tΦ(1+O(ϕ))u s = ∂tΦ(1+O(ϕ))u m (6.4) a m−as = ∂2tΦ(1+O(ϕ))u s = ∂2tΦ(1+O(ϕ))u m It is seen that, to within an error of O(ϕ) as ϕ → 0, the displacement field as well as the displacement, velocity, and acceleration gradients in the material and spatial description coincide (cf. (6.4)1 and (6.2)). Moreover, all the above-mentioned gradients are skew. However, in general, this is not the case as far as the velocity and acceleration fields are concerned (cf. (6.4)2,3). 7. Relative motion of a particle Let a C2-class function ξ : T → E be motion of a particle relative to the physical space (or a smaller body) assuming the physical space is in rest. Anyway, deformation of the physical space changes theposition of theparticle. Thus, the resultant position of the particle is given by a function η : T →E defined by η(t)= χ(ξ(t), t) (7.1) 838 M.Rudnicki The velocity of the particle is the time rate of (6.1). The chain rule leads to ∂tη =v b+vp (7.2) where vb(t)= ∂tχ(ξ(t), t)=v m(ξ(t), t)=vs(η(t), t) (7.3) vp(t)=R(t)∂tξ(t) The symbol ∂t in (7.3)1 denotes partial time differentiation holding the point ξ(t) fixed.The superscripts b and p are the first letters of the words: body and particle. The acceleration of the particle is the time rate of (7.2). In view of ∂tv b =ab+(∂tR)∂tξ ∂tv p =ap+(∂tR)∂tξ (7.4) where a b(t)= ∂2tχ(ξ(t), t)=a m(ξ(t), t) =as(η(t), t) (7.5) a p(t)=R(t)∂2t ξ(t) we arrive at ∂2tη =a b+ap+aC (7.6) where the last term in (7.6) (named after Coriolis) is defined by aC =2(∂tR)∂tξ =2ω×v p (7.7) 8. Concluding remarks As regards the comparison of kinematical fields in thematerial and spatial description, it is obvious that both forms of the displacement at anypoint take either zero or non-zero values (cf. (2.14)). Thus, if a given point at any time is a fixedpoint of the deformationmapping, then the displacements at this point at this time vanish, and otherwise. However, in general, this is not the case as far as the velocity and acceleration fields are concerned. Nevertheless, a more stringent condition can be formulated. Namely, if either form of the velocity (acceleration), i.e., the material or spatial form, is zero, and, in addition, the displacement is zero, then the other form of the velocity (acceleration) vani- shes as well (cf. (3.13)). On the other hand, if a given point is a fixed point On the material and spatial description... 839 of the deformation mapping in any interval of time, then the velocities and accelerations at this point vanish together with the displacements during that interval of time. Representation formulas (4.1) are composed of constant and variable parts. Obviously, relations of four types are possible, i.e., ”material-material”, ”spatial-spatial”, ”material-spatial” and”spatial-material”. Thevariable parts are affected by rotation and unaffected by translation, whereas the constant parts are influenced by translation, and, interestingly, most of them by rota- tion too. Precisely, the rotation does not affect only the ”material-material” constant parts, which are expressed entirely in terms of w (cf. (4.2)). The material and spatial forms of the displacement, velocity and accele- ration coincide at every point of the physical space if and only if the rota- tion tensor is equal to the identity tensor. Moreover, all the above-mentioned vector-valued fields are then constant. Assuming that the rotation is small, the difference between the material and spatial description proves to be immaterial so far as the displacement field as well as the displacement, velocity and acceleration gradients are concerned. In order to discard this difference in the case of the velocity and acceleration the additional requirement about smallness of the translation as a part of the deformation (cf. (2.3)) is necessary. For instance, small translations are arising frommotion in a small interval of time. At last, both the material and spatial descriptions are necessary to define the notion of both centrodes, i.e., the fixed and moving ones, in an elegant manner. Despite our consideration is carried out under the assertion that the defor- mation transforms the physical space into itself, the results treated in a proper way are in fact valid for any non-coplanar set of points (cf. e.g. Brinkman and Klotz, 1971). Unlike inmanybooks on the subject, the presented paper does not use the indicial notation excluding some representation formulasprovided inSection3. In our hope, such an approach is better than that of the others as far as some general concepts are concerned and could reduce the difficulties that arise while studyingmechanics (cf. Evans et al., 2004). Remembering that all real materials are deformable, there is every reason to extend the presented treatment on less stringent constrained materials. Acknowledgement A prelude to some early results communicated in this paper was an investigation conducted under the Grant nr 503G10834400 ofWarsawUniversity of Technology in the Year 2000. 840 M.Rudnicki References 1. BrinkmanH.W.,Klotz E.A., 1971,Linear Algebra and Analytic Geometry, Addison-Wesley, Reading 2. Easthope C.E., 1964,Three Dimensional Dynamics, A Vectorial Treatment, Buttenworths, London 3. Evans D.L., Gray G.L., Constanzo F., Cornwell P., Self B.P., 2004, Rigidbodydynamics: studentmisconceptionsand their diagnosis,21st ICTAM, Warsaw 4. Gurtin M.E., 1981, An Introduction to Continuum Mechanics, Academic Press, NewYork 5. Gurtin M.E., Williams W.O., 1976, A note on rigid fields, J. of Elasticity, 6, 3, 331-333 6. NwokahO.D.I,HurmuzluY., 2002,TheMechanical SystemsDesign Hand- book, Modeling, Measurement, and Control, CRCPress, Boca Raton 7. Papastavridis J.G., 1998,Tensor Calculus andAnalytical Dynamics, Library of EngineeringMathematics, CRCPress, Boca Raton 8. Sławianowski J.J., 2004, Affine symmetry in mechanics of discrete and con- tinues systems, 21st ICTAM, Warsaw 9. TruesdellC.,ToupinR.A., 1960,TheClassicalFieldTheories, in:Encyclo- pedia of Physics, vol. III/1,Principles of Classical Mechanics andField Theory, (ed. S. Flügge), Springer Verlag, Berlin 10. Uicker J.J. (Jr.), PennockG.R., Shigley J.E., 2003,Theory ofMachines and Mechanisms, Oxford Univ. Press, NewYork 11. Wang C.C., 1979, Mathematical Principles of Mechanics and Electromagne- tism, Part A: Analytical and Continuum Mechanics, PlenumPress, NewYork O materialnym i przestrzennym opisie ciał sztywnych Streszczenie Rozważono kinematykę ciała sztywnego w opisie materialnym, przestrzennym i mieszanym bez wprowadzania układu współrzędnych. Przedstawiono reprezentacje tensorowe gradientówpól przemieszczenia, prędkości i przyspieszenia.Wyodrębniono przypadki szczególne obrotu wokół stałej oraz prawie stałej osi. Zbadano ruch przy założeniumałego obrotu. Naszkicowano zagadnienie ruchu względnego cząstki. Manuscript received January 5, 2005; accepted for print February 10, 2005