Geol

312 Prof. Chester

1d) For a typical non-linear viscous

material, the viscosity is higher at low stress
levels and lower at high stress levels.
Illustrate such behavior in a plot of stress
versus strain rate.

As shown, the viscosity is the slope of the
line (change in stress divided by change in
strain rate), and the slope is greater at lower
stress and less at high stress.

___strain rate___



1b) Label the physical analogs with the appropriate end-member mechanical behavior.


A. ________Viscous_________________





B. ________Elastic__________________





C. ________Plastic _________________

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Geol 312 Prof. Chester

1c) Consider the results of a
triaxial compression test on
Berea sandstone conducted
at a confining pressures of
170 and 25 MPa shown to
the right. Calculate the
elastic (Young's) modulus
from the experimental data.

1d) Consider the mechanical behavior
represented by a spring slider shown below,
which is often used to represent the
mechanical response of rock. Show on the
plot to the right the idealized behavior of a
rock (based on this model) for cyclic loading
from zero load, increasing stress to the
plastic yield point, plastic deformation
characterized by softening, and then
followed by unloading stress back to zero
stress.

strain

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 Geol 312 Prof. Chester

1b) Rocks and minerals can behave as viscous materials. Examples of viscous behavior in
rock include convective flow in the mantle, diapiric flow of rock salt, and flow of glaciers
under their own weight. The questions below deal with flow in a glacier.

For this problem, write the mathematical relationships that describe one-dimensional
deformation for perfect linear viscous material, and give the units of each term in the
equation.

σ = η ε˙
σ is stress, units are force/area, given as Pa

ε˙ is strain rate, units are 1/time, given as t -1
η is viscosity, units are stress - time, given as poise, Pa ⋅ s

Vertical Stress (MPa)

€ Glaciers can be hundreds of meters thick,
and ice sheets up to 3 km thick. Calculate
and then plot the magnitude of the vertical
(overburden) stress in a glacier in the upper
100 m of ice. Make sure to label the axes on
the plot

σ v = ρgz
= (1000 kg/m2 )(10 m/s2 )(100 m)
= 1 MPa

c) The viscosity of glacier ice is about 1012 Pa s, or 106 MPa s. Using the calculated vertical
stress at 100 m depth and assuming linear-viscous behavior, how long would it take for the
ice at the bottom of the glacier to undergo 10% strain by viscous creep? Show the
equations you use and your calculations.

σ = η ε˙ and ε˙ = Δσ/Δt, so σ = η Δε/Δt and Δt = η Δε/σ

Δt = (1012 Pa s)(0.1)/(1 MPa) = (10 6 MPa s)(0.1)/(1 MPa) = 10 5 s

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