Applications of Tensor Functions in Continuum Damage Mechanics

The mechanical behaviour of anisotropic solids requires a suitable mathe matical modelling. The properties of tensor functions with several argument tensors con stitute a rational basis for a consistent mathematical modelling of complex material be haviour. This paper presents certain principles, methods, and recent successful applications of tensor functions in continuum mechanics. The rules for specifying irreducible sets of ten sor invariants and tensor generators for material tensors of rank two and four are also dealt with. Furthermore, it is very important to determine the scalar coefficients in constitutive and evolutional equations. This problem is explained in more detail.