On finite shear (Q1973993)

The authors present a thorough discussion of the notion of finite shear deformation in continuum mechanics. Considerations are purely kinematical and geometrical. Three different definitions are examined, those of shear of material directions (change in angle between two material line elements), planar shear (change in the angle made by the normal of a pair of material planar elements), and Jaeger shear (as considered in geology; change in the angle between the normal to a planar element and a material element along its normal). Special attention is paid to the determination of all pairs of material lines which at a typical material particle are unsheared, and to the conditions of maximum shear and related useful results. In this way, many old results are rederived in a new fashion.