Stress Field of the Earth’s Crust

Stress Field of the Earth’s Crust is based on lecture notes prepared for a course offered to graduate students in the Earth sciences and engineering at University of Potsdam. In my opinion, it will undoubtedly also become a standard reference book on the desk of most scientists working with rocks, such as geophysicists, structural geologists, rock mechanics experts, as well as geotechnical and petroleum en- neers. That is because this book is concerned with what is probably the most pe- liar characteristic of rock – its initial stress condition. Rock is always under a natural state of stress, primarily a result of the gravitational and tectonic forces to which it is subjected. Crustal stresses can vary regionally and locally and can reach in places considerable magnitudes, leading to natural or man-made mechanical failure. P- existing stress distinguishes rock from most other materials and is at the core of the discipline of “Rock Mechanics”, which has been developed over the last century. Knowledge of rock stress is fundamental to understanding faulting mechanisms and earthquake triggering, to designing stable underground caverns and prod- tive oil fields, and to improving mining methods and geothermal energy extraction, among others. Several books have been written on the subject, but none has atte- ted to be as all-encompassing as the one by Zang and Stephansson.

This is the first textbook on the Stress Field of the Earth`s Crust. It provides a brick by brick development of stress concept - Maths, Physics, Mechanics and Solid Earth.

Stress Field of the Earth’s Crust is based on lecture notes prepared for a course offered to graduate students in the Earth sciences and engineering at University of Potsdam. In my opinion, it will undoubtedly also become a standard reference book on the desk of most scientists working with rocks, such as geophysicists, structural geologists, rock mechanics experts, as well as geotechnical and petroleum en- neers. That is because this book is concerned with what is probably the most pe- liar characteristic of rock – its initial stress condition. Rock is always under a natural state of stress, primarily a result of the gravitational and tectonic forces to which it is subjected. Crustal stresses can vary regionally and locally and can reach in places considerable magnitudes, leading to natural or man-made mechanical failure. P- existing stress distinguishes rock from most other materials and is at the core of the discipline of “Rock Mechanics”, which has been developed over the last century. Knowledge of rock stress is fundamental to understanding faulting mechanisms and earthquake triggering, to designing stable underground caverns and prod- tive oil fields, and to improving mining methods and geothermal energy extraction, among others. Several books have been written on the subject, but none has atte- ted to be as all-encompassing as the one by Zang and Stephansson.

ForewordPrefaceDedicationAcknowledgementList of Permissions1. Introduction1.1 Stresses in a Body1.2 Importance of Rock Stress1.3 History of Interest in Rock StressPart I – Definition and Terminology2. Stress Definition2.1 Stress Tensor2.2 Principal Stresses2.3 Mohr Circle of Stress2.4 Visualizing Stress3. Rock Fracture Criteria3.1 Phenomenological Theories3.2 Mechanistic Failure Theories3.3 Fracture Mechanics3.4 Nonlinear Fracture Mechanics4. Rock Stress Terminology4.1 Gravity Stress4.2 Tectonic Stress4.3 Residual Stress4.4 Structural Stress5. Crustal Stress Models5.1 Lithostatic Stress5.2 Biaxial State of Stress5.3 Tectonic Stress Field5.4 Effective Stress5.5 Laboratory Stress ProfilesPart II – Measuring Stress6. Physics of Stress Measurements6.1 Mechanical Methods6.2 Strain Gages6.3 Diffraction Methods6.4 Optical Methods6.5 Ultrasonic Wave Speed6.6 Micromagnetic Method7. Measuring Crustal Stress - Borehole Methods7.1 Classification of Measurement Techniques7.2 Hydraulic Fracturing7.3 Borehole Breakouts8. Measuring Crustal Stress - Core-Based Methods8.1 Anelastic Strain Recovery8.1.1 Rheological Basis8.1.2 Relaxation Apparatus8.2 Kaiser EffectPart III – Interpreting Stress Data9. Local Stress Data9.1 Continental Deep Drilling Site KTB, Germany9.2 Nuclear Waste Site Olkiluoto, Finland9.3 San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth, USA10. Generic Stress Data10.1 Magnitude-Depth Profiles10.2 Orientation Maps and Smoothing10.3 Stress State-Scale Relations10.4 Best-Estimate Stress Model11. Global Stress11.1 European Stress11.2 World Stress Map11.3 Plate Tectonic InterpretationEpilogueStress ReferencesIndexStress Movies Content on DVD-ROMDVD-ROM included inside back cover