ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the fundamental definitions of force vectors, stress tensors, and strain tensors are reviewed. The chapter begins with a discussion of force vectors, since the concept of “force” is encountered in everyday life and is therefore very intuitive. Separate sections devoted to stress tensors and strain tensors are then presented. Certain parallels will be drawn between force vectors and stress/strain tensors. An important underlying principal is that a tensor cannot be described in a mathematical sense until a specific coordinate system is selected for use. Also, a tensor cannot be properly described using only a single component of the tensor, i.e., all components of a tensor must be known in order to describe the tensor.
