Tensor Derivative (continuum Mechanics) - Divergence of A Tensor Field

Divergence of A Tensor Field

The divergence of a tensor field is defined using the recursive relation

$(\boldsymbol{\nabla}\cdot\boldsymbol{T})\cdot\mathbf{c} = \boldsymbol{\nabla}\cdot(\mathbf{c}\cdot\boldsymbol{T}) ~;\qquad\boldsymbol{\nabla}\cdot\mathbf{v} = \text{tr}(\boldsymbol{\nabla}\mathbf{v})$

where c is an arbitrary constant vector and v is a vector field. If is a tensor field of order n > 1 then the divergence of the field is a tensor of order n−1.

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