Open AccessStresses Induced in a Purely Elastic Earth Model under Various Tectonic Loads
Author(s) -
Durney B.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1965.tb03059.x
Subject(s) - dimensionless quantity , rigidity (electromagnetism) , geology , tectonics , geometry , dimension (graph theory) , geodesy , mechanics , mathematics , seismology , physics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
Summary A two‐dimensional purely elastic model is used to evaluate the stresses induced in the Earth by density variations or by topographic surface irregularities. An important role is played in this model by the ratio L =μ/ ρg where μ is the modulus of rigidity, p the density and g the acceleration of gravity. This ratio has the dimension of a length and is approximately equal to 3 000 km. If D is the horizontal dimension of the mountain or density deficiency the significance of the dimensionless number G = D/L is discussed. Given a density deficiency with horizontal dimension D much larger than the vertical dimension d , the shape of a mountain or continent can be determined such that the stresses due to both the density deficiency and the continent are small for depths large compared to d , i. e. the mountain and density deficiency are in isostatic equilibrium.