Energy uniqueness for traction-driven elasticity ($E=\frac{1}{2}\int (\rho |\dot{\mathbf{w}}{|}^2+c_{ijpq}{e}_{ij}{e}_{pq})dV$)

The difference of two solutions with the same body force, boundary traction and initial data satisfies a homogeneous elastic equation with zero boundary work. Multiplication by its velocity and integration by parts conserve the displayed positive energy. Zero initial energy forces zero velocity for all times, and zero initial displacement field then forces zero displacement field. Rigid zero-strain motions do not cause nonuniqueness after initial data are fixed. This assumes positive mass density, stable real elastic moduli and sufficient regularity for the energy identity.

For a time-independent symmetric negative semidefinite boundary matrix $k$, the difference of two linear elasticity solutions with the same data has traction $kw$. Integration by parts conserves the displayed nonnegative energy. Zero initial data force zero velocity and then zero displacement. The matrix $-k$ is the stiffness of boundary springs to a prescribed support; null directions are traction-free.