Simple shear decomposition of the deformation gradient

Every m-dimensional (m greater than or equal to 2) homogeneous deformation is shown to consist in a succession of a uniform dilatation, a rotation, an d m - 1 simple shears. This decomposition constitutes an extension of those owing to Kelvin and Tait [9] and Love [4] and allows for a more physical u nderstanding of Noll's mathematical definition of a simple fluid.