GEOPH 326 - Assignment 1

Winter 2005

Assigned: M, 23/Jan/05
Due: M, 30/Jan/05
1 - Write down the equations of equilibrium of moments for an elementary
cube under stress and prove that the stress tensor is symmetric.

2 - The stress-dilatation equation for an elementary elastic cube under hy-

drostatic stress is given by

σ = Kθ
In the hydrostatic case we can write the stress tensor as follows: σ ij = σδij .
Express the constant K (bulk modulus) as a function of λ and µ.

3 - A small cube of elastic material is under stress. The stress tensor for
the experiment is given by
 
σ 0 0
 0 0 0 .
 
0 0 0
Using Hooke’s law find:
a) ²11 as a function of σ. The proportionality constant is called Young’s
modulus (Y ). Express Y as a function of λ and µ.
b) Find the ratios −²22 /²11 and −²33 /²11 in terms of λ and µ. (This ratio is
called Poisson’s ratio ν)

4 - Read the article “Avo and Lamé Constants for Rock Parametrization
and Fluid Detection” by B. Goodway1 . You will be able to read up to page
43 without any problem; you can try to understand the rest of the paper as
well.
In a few sentences summarize the physical meaning of the constants λ, µ, K,
Y and ν and their importance, if any, as hydrocarbon indicators. Provide
numerical values (in a table) for these constants in GPa units for typical
rocks and/or geological formations.
The paper is in www-geo.phys.ualberta.ca/~sacchi/GEOPH326/ I saved
it as Goodway.pdf
1
The Recorder, Volume 26, June 2001, Special Issue I