Abstract: | Summary Finite elastic straining is analysed with all quantities referred consistently to the deformed body taken as the function domain. The straining-displacement of a typical point is relative to a set of axes imbedded in the body at one arbitrary point and rotating in fixed space with that neighborhood if necessary in a particular problem. The resulting |plane stress' equations have precisely the same form as in the classical theory but relate to |true' quantities in the deformed body.The solution of a circular hole in a deformed sheet under simple tension is given and checks closely with experiment on rubber. Cauchy strains of order 65% and local rotation of order 30° are found to occur at the hole boundary.The solution of a deformed quadrantal cantilever is given. Cauchy strains of several hundred percent and local rotation of order 90° occur.Any boundary value problem already solved for the classical infinitesimal strains theory can be applied directly as a finite strains solution for the deformed body.Notation x, y, z, r, , z Cartesian and polar co-ordinates respectively - , Normal and shear true stresses respectively - , Normal and shear true strains respectively - r Position vector - Airy stress function - S Simple tensile stress applied to sheet - a Radius of circular hole in deformed sheet - a, b Inner and outer radii of quadrantal cantilever - u Straining-displacement vector - u, v Straining-displacement scalar components - E, True Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio respectively - c1, c2 Local unit vectors in principal normal strains directions - i, j Cartesian axes constant unit vectors - Stress dyadic or tensor - First stress invariant - I Idemfactor or spherical tensor - P Shear load per unit thickness applied to quadrantal cantilever - A, B, D, N, H, K, L Arbitrary constants of integration |