Tensor derivative (continuum mechanics)

In continuum mechanics, the tensor derivative is a mathematical operation that extends the concept of a derivative to tensor fields. Just like derivatives in calculus describe how a function changes at a point, tensor derivatives describe how a tensor field changes in space or time. ### Definitions and Concepts: 1. **Tensor Fields**: In continuum mechanics, physical quantities such as stress, strain, and velocity are often represented as tensor fields. A tensor field assigns a tensor to every point in a spatial domain.