On the Transformation Property of the Deformation Gradient under a Change of Frame

If the deformation gradients are denoted by F and F ^* respectively before and after a change of frame, they are related by the transformation formula, F ^*=QF, where Q is the orthogonal transformation associated with the change of frame. Although it has been pointed out that this relation is valid “provided that the reference configuration be unaffected by the change of frame” (see p. 308 of [1]), this formula is found in most textbook of Continuum Mechanics, and is used, without further justification, in deriving the condition of material frame-indifference, ?(QF)=Q?(F)Q ^T for the constitutive function ? of the stress tensor of an elastic body. In this note, we shall analyze the effect of change of frame on the transformation property of the deformation gradient, and show that the above transformation formula is not valid in general. However, we shall confirm the validity of the above well-known condition of material frame-indifference without the assumption that the reference configuration be unaffected by the change of frame.