EART290C 2011

WEEK #2 ELASTICITY AND FLEXURE

Topics/Concepts
Stress and strain tensors, definition of elasticity, constitutive relationships
Youngs modulus, Poissons ratio, compatibility equations, Airy stress function
Strain energy, spherical shells, bending vs. stretching, membrane stresses
Plate bending, stress maxima, flexural parameter, isostasy, compensation factor
Elastic thickness, yield-strength envelope, homologous temperature
Equations
Deviatoric stress tensor

ij

ij ij 13 ij kk

E
E
kk ij
ij
(1 )(1 2 )
1

Strain energy/vol = d

Flexure equation: D

1 E
2 1 2

1 w
j

ij i
2 x j xi

ij kk ij
E
E

ETe 3
D
12(1 2 )

4D

)
g
f
m

ij

Strain tensor

E
3(1 2 )

E
2(1 )

1/ 4

d 4w
d 2w

P
( m f ) gw q( x)
dx 4
dx 2

Numbers
Moduli ~1011 Pa (rock), ~1010 Pa (ice), ~0.3

References
Turcotte, D.L. and G. Schubert, Geodynamics, 2nd ed., C.U.P., 2002, Chapter 3
Watts, A.B., Isostasy and flexure of the lithosphere, C.U.P., 2001
Timoshenko, S.P., J.N. Goodier, Theory of elasticity, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, 1970.
Landau, L.D. and E.M. Lifshitz, Theory of elasticity, 3rd ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, 1986
(especially Section 15 on deformation of shells)

Body

Te
(km)

dT/dz
(K/km)

Body

Te

dT/dz
(K/km)

Earth
(cont.)

30

15

Venus
(450oC)

30

15

Mars
(recent)

100

Moon
(ancient)

15

30

Europa

40

Ganymede

40

Giese et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 2007