Wojtek,
The simple intuitive answer, if you are thinking of the stress or
the strain ellipsoid, is that the eigenvalues are the magnitudes of the
principal axes of the ellipsoid (i.e. the principal stresses or principal
strains), and the eigenvectors define the orientations of those principal
axes (the principal directions).
Rob
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> Hello All,
>Can anyone explain to me (or give some references explaining) what the
>hell are eigenvalues and eigenvectors ??? Bear in mind, that my maths
>neurons got severely damaged by a heavy case of boreliosis ;)
>
>thanks in advance - Wojtek
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Robert J. Twiss email: [log in to unmask]
Geology Department telephone: (530) 752-1860
University of California at Davis FAX: (530) 752-0951
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616-8605, USA
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