ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF MATERIAL SYMMETRY FOR ANISOTROPIC ELASTIC MATERIALS

Abstract

The problem considered here is that of identifying the type of elastic material symmetry of a material, given the values of the components of the fourth-rank elasticity tensor of the material relative to a known, but arbitrary, coordinate system. Four simple eigenvalue problems are posed for the determination of the normals to the planes of reflective material symmetry of the elastic material. The solution of the eigenvalue problems will determine the number and orientation of the normals to the planes of reflective material symmetry. This information is then used to determine the elastic material symmetry possessed by the material.