arXiv2026
Variational Relativity is a framework developed by Souriau in the sixties to better formulate General Relativity and its classical limit\,: Classical Continuum Mechanics. It has been used, for instance, to formulate elasticity from a Lagrangian (or Action) in General Relativity. In that case, two primary variables are involved, the universe (Lorentzian) metric $g$ and the matter field $Ψ$. A Lagrangian density depending on the 1-jet of these variables is then introduced which must satisfy the principle of General Covariance. Souriau proved in 1958 that under these hypotheses, the Lagrangian density depends only on the punctual value of the matter field $Ψ$ and of a secondary variable $\mathbf{K}$, the conformation, an invariant of the diffeomorphism group, which is the Relativistic analog of the inverse of the right Cauchy--Green tensor. In the present work, an extension of Souriau's results to a second order gradient theory in General Relativity is presented. Accordingly, new higher order diffeomorphisms invariants are found. Their classical limits are calculated, showing that the 3-dimensional Continuum Mechanics second gradient theory can be derived from such a relativistic theory. Some of these invariants converge to objective quantities in the Galilean limit (such as the fundamental variables of finite strain second gradient theory, modeling solids), others to non-objective quantities (such as those encountered in the modeling of fluids): objectivity is thus natural for the constitutive variables of solids and unnatural for those of fluids. The present work contributes to clarify the theoretical foundation of higher gradient Continuum Mechanics theory.