Past exam of the elasticity and plasticity course of the University of Oxford / 2008 / 1 / d / Solution

Apply energy uniqueness for a linear elastic traction problem. Subtract two solutions with the same loading, writing their displacement difference as $\mathbf{v}$. Linearity makes its body force and boundary traction zero. The preceding energy identity therefore yields ${\int }_{B}2W(e(\mathbf{v}))dV=0$. Positive definiteness and continuity imply $e(\mathbf{v})=0$ everywhere. By the permitted zero-strain characterization,Thus the solution is unique modulo infinitesimal rigid translations and rotations, on each connected body. Conversely adding such a displacement changes neither strain nor stress, so these are exactly the unconstrained modes. This is conditional uniqueness; existence of a pure-traction solution additionally requires balanced resultant force and torque.