 Equilibrium contraction of a self-gravitating elastic sphere

For a uniform traction-free sphere, first-order self-gravity is $b=-gx/a$. Static averaging gives $\overline{\sigma }=-\rho gaI/5$. Homogeneous linear elasticity then gives $\overline{e}=-\rho gaI/(15\kappa )$. The boundary strain identity identifies $\overline{e}=u(a)I/a$, proving the displayed positive radius decrease. The local strain is not uniform, and the cancellation of the shear modulus concerns only the mean contraction.