Inertia tensor v.s pincipal axes moment of inertia

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between the inertia tensor and the principal axes moment of inertia. Participants explore methods to calculate the inertia tensor from given principal moments of inertia, as well as the implications of diagonal versus non-diagonal inertia tensors.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about calculating the inertia tensor from principal axes moments of inertia, providing specific values for the moments.
  • Another participant states that in the principal frame, the inertia tensor is diagonal, leading to zero off-diagonal elements (Ixy, Iyz, Izx), and provides a matrix representation of the inertia tensor.
  • A different participant elaborates on the concept of principal axes of inertia, explaining that they pass through the centroid and that the moments of inertia about these axes are the principal moments of inertia.
  • Some participants express confusion regarding the presence of non-zero off-diagonal elements in inertia tensors they have encountered, questioning how to reverse the calculation to obtain the inertia tensor from the principal moments of inertia.
  • Another participant suggests that if there are non-zero off-diagonal elements, one should solve the eigenvalue problem and construct a transformation matrix to relate the inertia tensor to its principal form.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the presence of non-zero off-diagonal elements in inertia tensors and the methods to calculate the inertia tensor from principal moments. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific calculations and transformations required.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific equations and transformation matrices without fully resolving the mathematical steps involved in the calculations. There is an assumption that readers are familiar with concepts such as eigenvalue problems and transformation matrices.

kasoll
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Is there a method to calculate inertia tensor form principal axes moment of inertia?
Like now we have moment of inertia: (Ix,Iy,Iz)=(20,18,25), and hot to calculate the inertia tensor like
(Ixx,Ixy,Ixz
Iyx,Iyy,Iyz,
Izx,Izy,Izz)?
I have read about this page several times, but still have no idea.
 
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In the principal frame, the inertia tensor is diagonal meaning that Ixy = Iyz = Izx = 0. So in this case you would write
$$I=\begin{pmatrix}
20 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 18 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 25
\end{pmatrix}$$Does this answer your question?
 
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Principle axis of moment of inertia is the axis passing through centroid or center of gravity of body.

The moment of inertia of a figure about a line is the sum of the products formed by multiplying the magnitude of each element (of area or of mass) by the square of its distance from the line. So the moment of inertia of a figure is the sum of moments of inertia of its parts.

Now we know that the moments of inertia of a figure about lines which intersect at a common point are generally unequal. The moment is greatest about one line and least about another line perpendicular to the first one. A set of three orthogonal lines consisting of these two and a line perpendicular to both are the principal axes of inertia of the figure relative to that point. If the point is the figure's centroid, the axes are the central principal axes of inertia. The moments of inertia about principal axes are principal moments of inertia.
 
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kuruman said:
In the principal frame, the inertia tensor is diagonal meaning that Ixy = Iyz = Izx = 0. So in this case you would write
$$I=\begin{pmatrix}
20 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 18 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 25
\end{pmatrix}$$Does this answer your question?
Thanks for the answer. But almost all the inertia tensor I have seen have non-zero valur as Ixy,Ixz,Iyz. I know to get principal axes moment of inertia from inertia tensor, which just looks like the one you mentioned.
But how to reverse the calculation? By multiply a matrix? And how to get the spercific matrix?
 
kasoll said:
Thanks for the answer. But almost all the inertia tensor I have seen have non-zero valur as Ixy,Ixz,Iyz. I know to get principal axes moment of inertia from inertia tensor, which just looks like the one you mentioned.
But how to reverse the calculation? By multiply a matrix? And how to get the spercific matrix?
If there are non-zero off diagonal matrix elements, then you solve the eigenvalue problem, find the eigenvectors and construct the transformation matrix ##T## from the direction cosines as explained on pages 8-9 in the reference that you quoted. Read it carefully. Equation (15) says that ##I'=(T)~(I)~(T)^T##. If you want to go back the other way, then ##(I)=(T)^T~(I')~(T)##.
 
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