ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shear tensor

Imagine you have a squishy toy that you can squeeze from different directions. When you squeeze it on one side, you'll notice that the toy tries to resist and push back in the opposite direction. This is called deformation, which means things change shape when you apply force.

Now, let's say you squeeze your toy from two different directions at the same time - this will cause it to change shape in a specific way, known as shear deformation. The shear tensor is a tool used by scientists and engineers to measure and analyze this type of deformation.

Basically, the shear tensor tells us how much something changes shape when it's being squeezed or pulled from two different directions at the same time. It's a way to understand how materials behave under different types of forces, and helps us design things like bridges, airplanes, and other structures to make sure they're strong enough to withstand forces.

In summary, shear tensor is a tool used to measure how much something changes shape when being squeezed or pulled from two directions, which helps us design strong and safe structures.