TENSOR

• In mathematics, a tensor is a certain kind of geometrical entity, or

alternatively generalized 'quantity'. or
• Tensors, defined mathematically, are simply arrays of numbers, or functions,
that transform according to certain rules under a change of coordinates.
• A tensor may be defined at a single point or collection of isolated points of
space (or space-time), or it may be defined over a continuum of points. In the
latter case, the elements of the tensor are functions of position and the tensor
forms what is called a tensor field. This just means that the tensor is defined
at every point within a region of space (or space-time), rather than just at a
point, or collection of isolated points.
• Actually, the tensor notion is quite general, and applies to all quantities.
Scalars and vectors are special kinds of tensors.
• The feature that distinguishes a scalar from a vector, and distinguishes both
of those from a more general tensor quantity is the number of indices in the
representing array.
• This number is called the rank (or the order) of a tensor. Thus, scalars are
rank zero tensors (no indices at all), and vectors are rank one tensors.
 Vector Notation
The scalar, vector and tensor properties of the hydraulic head and the hydraulic
conductivity can be expressed conveniently using vector notation. The
following tensor terms can be defined:

A zero-order tensor is also referred to as a scalar and is characterized by its

size or magnitude only. The hydraulic head, temperature or chemical
concentration are all examples of scalar quantities.

A first-order tensor is also refereed to as a vector and has both quantity and
direction. Vectors require 3 components, each having both magnitude and
direction. Heat flux, specific discharge and velocity are all vector terms.

A second-order tensor (or simply - a tensor) requires nine components to

specify it completely. The hydraulic conductivity is an example of a tensor
quantity.
 Vector Notation
The hydraulic head is a scalar quantity. If we take the gradient of the head, we
get a vector quantity which has both magnitude and direction. The gradient of
h is written mathematically as grad h or Vh.
h h h
h  i j k
x y z
where: i, j, and k are unit vectors in the x, y, and z directions.

The vector deferential operator V is equivalent to:

( ) ( ) ( )
( )  i j k
x y z
Equation #2 means little unless the parentheses contain either a vector or a
scalar quantity.
Another useful vector operator is the Laplacian V2. This can be written as

2 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )
 ()  2
 2  2
x y z
 Darcy’s law in several dimensions
When we looked at Darcy’s Law, we assumed the flow was in a single direction
(isotropic media). Surely flow can go just about anywhere. How do we account
for this?
We must define the flow in terms of vectors, which have components in one or
more dimensions or directions.
We can represent the q vector in terms of the
components in the x and y directions (2-D):
h h
qx   K , qy  K
x y
  
q  qx i  q y j
2 2
q  qx  q y
  tan 1 (q y / q x ) Darcy’s law in
where qx and qy are the magnitudes of flow in the 1-D is a line
x and y directions, and i and j are unit vectors in 2-D is a plane
the x and y directions.
Similarly we can extend for 3-D. 3-D is a surface
What about flow in anisotropic media?
Surely the hydraulic conductivity can be different in the x and y directions, yes?
Let’s just use 2-D for now:

h
qx   Kx
x
h
qy   Ky
y
 So what is the relative discharge and
effective hydraulic conductivity for
some direction (s) other than x or y?

h
qs   K s
s
h
q x  qs cos( )   K x
x
h
q y  qs sin( )   K y
y
Rearranging
h qs
 
s Ks
h qx qs cos( )
    1
x Kx Kx
h qy qs sin( )
   
y Ky Ky
The Chain Rule from calculus
ds
h h dx h dy dy
θ
 
s x ds y ds dx

h h h cos (θ) = dx/ds

 cos( )  sin( )
s x y sin (θ) = dy/ds

Inserting the various relations from (1)

qs qs cos( ) qs sin( )
   cos( )  sin( )
Ks Kx Ky

1 cos 2 ( ) sin 2 ( )
 
Ks Kx Ky
 A review of polar coordinates:

x = r cos (θ)
y = r sin (θ)
x2 = r2 cos2 (θ)
y2 = r2 sin2 (θ)
r2 = x 2 + y 2

This is the equation of an ellipse with axes √Kx and √Ky

 The conductivity ellipse (anisotropic vs. isotropic)

If Kyy = Kxx then the media is isotropic and ellipse is a circle.

All of this assumes that the axes of the conductivity ellipse are aligned
with the x and y axes that we defined. What is the difference?
If they are not aligned, then a gradient in the x direction will cause some
flow in the y direction.

K ellipse aligned with K ellipse NOT aligned

coordinate axes with coordinate axes
In this case, there is some flow in the y direction from the gradient in the x
direction. (Convince yourself that there would also be some flow in the x direction
from a pure y-direction gradient). So a complete description is

h h h h
qx   K xx  K xy qy   K yx  K yy
x y x y

where Kij means “hydraulic conductivity in the i direction from a gradient

applied in the j direction.” Substitute x and y in every combination for i and j.

Note that when the K ellipse is aligned with x and y, the Kxy and Kyx are simply
zero, and Kxx is called Kx (Kyy is called Ky) It is generally easy to align the ellipse
and your axes. If not, the 2-D Darcy’s Law can be given in matrix form:

q x   K xx K xy  h x 
     
q y   K yx K yy  h y 
 • The hydraulic conductivity is a TENSOR, which is a fancy way of
describing any quantity that depends on direction.
• A vector is a first-rank tensor, since the components of a vector can be
classified by one subscript.
• K is a second-rank tensor because we need two subscripts.
• The gradient is a vector sometimes given the shorthand notation Vh. This
leads to the really shorthand notations:

which are equivalent to

qx   K xx K xy K xz  h x 
q     K K yy

K yz  h y 
 y  yx
 q z   K zx K zy K zz  h z 
