Nonlinear Continuum Mechanics for Finite Element Analysis 2nd.

edition March 2008

2D Polar decomposition calculator

written by R.D. Wood, last update April 2008
This MATLAB program illustrates the concepts of polar decomposition and
associated material and spatial principal directions introduced in Chapter
4 Section 4.6. A predetermined 4-node isoparameteric element is employed
for the initial MATERIAL configuration with the spatial position being
defined by the user. In principle this defines the motion of the complete
two-dimensional space but it is more instructive to consider the element
as being the complete body. This is ensured in the program as chosen
MATERIAL coordinates outside of the initial position are not permitted.
Polar decomposition
20
18
4

16
14

y (x2)

12
10
8
6

1
3

4
2

0
2
2

10
x (x1)

12

Polar decomposition example

14

16

18

20

Nonlinear Continuum Mechanics for Finite Element Analysis 2nd. edition March 2008

The MATERIAL configuration is a 2 x 2 square centered at [0, 0], see

Figure above for node numbering. X and Y are used for the MATERIAL
coordinates X1 and X2. Input is required for the four nodal spatial x(x1)
and y(x2) coordinates. As shown above these are x=[5 10 15 10], y=[6 2 4
16]. For MATERIAL coordinates within the 2 x 2 configuration, eg. X=0,
Y=0 chosen by the user the program calculates the:
1.
2.
3.
4.

corresponding spatial coordinates (coded as xyspat)

deformation gradient tensor F and detF
right Cauchy-Green tensor C
stretches stretch1 and stretch2 and principal material unit vectors N1
and N2
5. stretch tensor U
6. rotation tensor R and principal spatial unit vectors n1 and n2
7. Greens strain tensor E
and plots the principal directions.
Type CTRL+C to terminate program and type any key to continue after a
pause.