jännitysvektori

Jännitysvektori refers to the tension vector in mechanics, a concept used to describe the internal forces within a continuous medium, such as a solid or fluid. It represents the force exerted by one part of the medium on an adjacent part across a conceptual surface.

The tension vector is a fundamental quantity in the study of stress and strain. It quantifies the magnitude and direction of the force acting on a unit area of this imaginary surface. In a solid material, the tension vector can have both normal and tangential components relative to the surface. The normal component represents a pulling force (tension) or a pushing force (compression), while the tangential component represents shear forces.

In fluid mechanics, the tension vector is often related to pressure. For an ideal fluid at rest, the tension vector is always normal to any surface and directed inwards, representing pressure. For viscous fluids or fluids in motion, shear stresses can also contribute to the tension vector.

The concept of the tension vector is crucial for understanding how materials deform under load and for analyzing the stability of structures. It forms the basis for defining stress tensors, which provide a complete description of the state of stress at a point within a material. Mathematical formulations involving the tension vector are essential for deriving equations of equilibrium and motion for various physical systems.