关键词: 对称张量场, 可视化, 特征向量场

Abstract: Second-order symmetric tensor fields are visualized based on major（medium） and minor eigenvector fields，but there is a problem of discontinuity in direction with these eigenvector fields.On the other hand，the directions of eigenvectors of stress fields are always continuous.In consideration of these facts，a new pattern for visualizing second-order symmetric tensor fields based on the continuity of eigenvectors in direction is presented.Firstly the problem is clarified in theory，and a new definition for eigenvector fields is given.According to the continuity of eigenvectors in direction they are defined as the first（second） and third ones，and the values of the new eigenvector fields at all points including degenerate ones are then studied.New definition overcomes the drawback of discontinuity in direction under traditional definition with the continuity of eigenvector fields in direction preserved at all points including degenerate ones，at the same time，the visualization based on the new definition displays the property of such symmetric tensor fields as stress fields in essence.

Key words: symmetric tensor fields, visualization, eigenvector field