Another approach to linearized elasticity and Korn's inequality

Abstract

We describe and analyze an approach to the pure traction problem of three-dimensional linearized elasticity, whose novelty consists in considering the linearized strain tensor as the ‘primary’ unknown, instead of the displacement itself as is customary. This approach leads to a well-posed minimization problem, constrained by a weak form of the St Venant compatibility conditions. It also provides a new proof of Korn's inequality.