Rivlin-Ericksen tensor ($A_1=K+K^T,A_{j+1}=D_t{A}_j+A_{j}K+K^T{A}_j$)

Using the component-first velocity gradient $K_{ij}=\partial v_i/\partial x_j$, the Rivlin-Ericksen tensors are defined by the displayed recurrence. In particular $A_1$ is twice the rate-of-strain tensor. These tensors transform objectively under time-dependent rigid observer changes. With this convention the upper-convected derivative of $A_1$ is $A_2-2A_1^2$, an identity useful in the slow-flow expansion of a second-order fluid.