J2

The

Invariant

et al

Erik Thompson
Colorado State University
Department of Civil Engineering
September 8, 2000
The second principal invariant of the stress deviator tensor, J2 , plays an important role in the mathematical theory of plasticity as well as other branches
of nonlinear continuum mechanics. It is the purpose of this tutorial to show its
relationship to other invariants in common use.
Basic Denition
The stress deviator is:
2
S1
6 0
4

0
S2

0
0 75 = 64

1

S3

where
m

Its second invariant is:

J2

0
0

1

m
1

3
7
5

0
0

m
1

(1)

m

+ 2 + 3
3

(S1 S2 + S2 S3 + S3 S1 )

(2)

Note that its rst invariant is:

J1

= (S1 + S2 + S3 )  0

(3)

Equation 3 can be used with Eq. 2 to obtain:

J2


1 2
2
2
S1 + S2 + S3
2

(4)

which clearly shows that J2 is positive for all states of stress.

J2 can also be written in terms of the principal stresses as follows:
J2

=
=
=

(1
(2
(3

m )(2

m )

m )(1

m )

m )(3

m )

+ 1 m + 2 m
2 3 + 2 m + 3 m
3 1 + 3 m + 1 m

1 2

1 2

1 2

1 2

2 3

3 1

1 2

2 3

3 1

1h
(
6 1

2 )

2
m
2
m

3 1

+3m + 3m
2

2
m

2
3m

+ 13 (1 + 2 + 3 )2

+ 13 (12 + 22 + 32 + 21 2 + 22 3 + 23 1 )

= 13 ( 1 2 2 3 3 1 + 12 + 22 + 32 )
J2

+ (2

3 )

+ (3

1 )

(5)

Eective Stress
J2 has units of stress squared, hence its square root is often used in continuum
mechanics. In addition, a constant is employed so that this new invariant has the
value of the applied axial stress in one dimension. When this is done, it is called
the eective stress:
ef f

=
=

3J2

1 [(1
2

2 )

+ (2

3 )

+ (3

1 )

])

o 12

(6)

The Octahedral Shear Stress

Another representation of the J2 invariant is the shear stress on the planes whose
normals make equal angles with the principal axes. There are eight such planes
and they are referred to as the octahedral planes (see Fig. 1).

n
2

1
Figure 1: Octahedral Planes
In this gure, n^ is the unit normal vector to the plane shown, and it makes equal
angles with the three principal directions. Thus its value is:
!

1
n
^ = p ^i +
3

p1 ^j +
3

p1 k^
3

(7)

The vector, T~ , is the traction on this plane and its value, found using Cauchy's
equation, is
~
T

pT1

^i +

pT2

^j +

3


= p1 T1^i + T2^i + T3^i
3

pT3

^
k

(8)

Its component normal to the plane is

oct

~
T

n^

= 13 (T1 + T2 + T3 )
=

(9)

m

If the magnitude of the component of T~ tangent to the plane is designated as oct

(the octahedral shear stress) then by the Pythagorean theorem
2
oct

T2

2
m

= 31 (12 + 22 + 32 )

2
m

= 19 (212 + 222 + 232

2
oct

21 2

22 3

23 1 )

= 23 J2
s
oct

2
J
3 2

(10)

Radius of deviation
The next interpretation we give to the J2 invariant is the distance the stress deviates from a state of pure hydrostatic stress. In Fig. 2, the dashed line represents
the locus of points in principal stress space that correspond to states of pure hydrostatic stress, i.e. all three principal stresses are equal. The vector ~ is a generic
~ , represents the perpendicular displacement of this
state of stress. The vector R
~ is perpendicular
state of stress from one of pure hydrostatic stress. That is, R
to the hydrostatic line. We now show that the magnitude of this displacement
vector is yet another way of expressing the J2 invariant.

3
R

1= 2= 3
2

1
Figure 2: Radial distance from a state of pure hydrostatic stress
The unit vector in the direction of the hydrostatic line is
!

p1 ^j +
3

1
e
^ = p ^i +
3

p1 k^
3

(11)

The projection of ~ on the hydrostatic line is

o

~
 e
^

p1

(1 + 2 + 3 )

(12)

Thus the vector ~o is


~o

o e
^



(1 + 2 + 3 ) p1 ^i + ^j + k^
3
3


= m ^i + ^j + k^

p1

(13)

Note, the magnitude of this vector is not m , but rather 3m . By vector addition
=

~
R

~


= (1


~o
m )^
i + (2

m )^
j + (3

^
m )k

(14)

~ is
Thus magnitude of R

= (1

m )

+ (2

m )

+ (3

m )

i1

2 2

(15)

which, by Eq. 4, gives us

R

= 2J2

(16)

Note that all states of stress which have equal R-values create a cylindrical surface
about the hydrostatic line. This is shown in Fig. 3. The same is true, of course,
of states of stress with constant J2 -values, constant ef f -values, or constant oct values.

2
1
Figure 3: Cylinder formed by states of stress with equal R-values

Energy of Distortion
The nal representation of the J2 invariant is the energy of distortion. Strictly
speaking, the energy of distortion is not an invariant of the stress tensor because
its value is dependent on material properties. Never-the-less, it has the same
form for all linear, isotropic materials and its value is directly proportional to J2 .
Hence, for a given material, if one is known, so is the other.
For a linear elastic material, the relationship between the unit change in volume
at a point and the mean stress is
(1 + 2 + 3 ) = v = 3Km

(17)

Thus, if the hydrostatic component of stress is zero, there is no change in volume.

It thus follows that the deviatoric stress tensor causes no unit change in volume
because its hydrostatic component is zero. We conclude, therefore, that the
deviatoric stress causes only distortion of the material (change in shape but not
volume). The energy per unit volume necessary to cause this distortion is referred
to as the energy of distortion. Its value can be determined by noting that the
relationship between the deviatoric stress tensor and the deviatoric strain tensor
is:
2
6
4

1

0
0

m
1

3
2
7 = 2G 6
5
4

0
0

m
1

1

m

0
0

v
1

3
7
5

0
0

v
1

(18)

v

or more simply
[S ] = 2G[ ]
0

(19)

The work performed by the stress per unit volume to reach this state of distortion
is

Ud

[ ][ ]

1
0
2 S 

1 [S ]
= 12 [S ] 2G
1 (S1 S1 + S2 S2 + S3 S3 )
= 4G
1 2J2
= 4G
1 J2
= 2G

(20)

Thus, we have our nal relationship.

SUMMARY
J2

(S1 S2 + S2 S3 + S3 S1 )

J2

1
2
2 S1

J2

1
6

+ S22 + S32 )

[(1

2 )2

+ (2

ef f
oct

= 3J2
s

=
q

2
J
3 2

= 2J2
1
Ud =
J
2G 2
R

3 )2

+ (3

1 )2 ]