An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks

One of the main causes of azimuthal anisotropy in sedimentary rocks is anisotropy of tectonic stresses in the earth's crust. We have developed an analytic model for seismic anisotropy caused by the application of a small anisotropic stress. We first considered an isotropic linearly elastic medi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gurevich, Boris, Pervukhina, M., Makarynska, Dina
Format: Journal Article
Published: Society of Exploration Geophysics 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39981
_version_ 1848755742274748416
author Gurevich, Boris
Pervukhina, M.
Makarynska, Dina
author_facet Gurevich, Boris
Pervukhina, M.
Makarynska, Dina
author_sort Gurevich, Boris
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description One of the main causes of azimuthal anisotropy in sedimentary rocks is anisotropy of tectonic stresses in the earth's crust. We have developed an analytic model for seismic anisotropy caused by the application of a small anisotropic stress. We first considered an isotropic linearly elastic medium (porous or nonporous) permeated by a distribution of discontinuities with random (isotropic) orientation (such as randomly oriented compliant grain contacts or cracks). The geometry of individual discontinuities is not specified. Instead, their behavior is defined by a ratio B of the normal to tangential excess compliances. When this isotropic rock is subjected to a small compressive stress (isotropic or anisotropic), the number of cracks along a particular plane is reduced in proportion to the normal stress traction acting on that plane. This effect is modeled using the Sayers-Kachanov noninteractive approximation. The model predicts that such anisotropic crack closure yields elliptical anisotropy, regardless of the value of the compliance ratio B. It also predicts the ratio of Thomsen's anisotropy parameters epsilon/gamma as a function of the compliance ratio B and Poisson's ratio of the unstressed rock. A comparison of the model predictions with the results of laboratory measurements indicates a reasonable agreement for moderate magnitudes of uniaxial stress (as high as 30 MPa).These results can be used for differentiating stress-induced anisotropy from that caused by aligned fractures. Conversely, if the cause of anisotropy is known, then the anisotropy pattern allows one to estimate P-wave anisotropy from S-wave anisotropy.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T09:01:08Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-39981
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T09:01:08Z
publishDate 2011
publisher Society of Exploration Geophysics
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-399812018-09-07T02:49:55Z An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks Gurevich, Boris Pervukhina, M. Makarynska, Dina anisotropic media cracks seismology Earth crust rocks Poisson ratio One of the main causes of azimuthal anisotropy in sedimentary rocks is anisotropy of tectonic stresses in the earth's crust. We have developed an analytic model for seismic anisotropy caused by the application of a small anisotropic stress. We first considered an isotropic linearly elastic medium (porous or nonporous) permeated by a distribution of discontinuities with random (isotropic) orientation (such as randomly oriented compliant grain contacts or cracks). The geometry of individual discontinuities is not specified. Instead, their behavior is defined by a ratio B of the normal to tangential excess compliances. When this isotropic rock is subjected to a small compressive stress (isotropic or anisotropic), the number of cracks along a particular plane is reduced in proportion to the normal stress traction acting on that plane. This effect is modeled using the Sayers-Kachanov noninteractive approximation. The model predicts that such anisotropic crack closure yields elliptical anisotropy, regardless of the value of the compliance ratio B. It also predicts the ratio of Thomsen's anisotropy parameters epsilon/gamma as a function of the compliance ratio B and Poisson's ratio of the unstressed rock. A comparison of the model predictions with the results of laboratory measurements indicates a reasonable agreement for moderate magnitudes of uniaxial stress (as high as 30 MPa).These results can be used for differentiating stress-induced anisotropy from that caused by aligned fractures. Conversely, if the cause of anisotropy is known, then the anisotropy pattern allows one to estimate P-wave anisotropy from S-wave anisotropy. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39981 10.1190/1.3567950 Society of Exploration Geophysics fulltext
spellingShingle anisotropic media
cracks
seismology
Earth crust
rocks
Poisson ratio
Gurevich, Boris
Pervukhina, M.
Makarynska, Dina
An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title_full An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title_fullStr An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title_full_unstemmed An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title_short An analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
title_sort analytic model for the stress-induced anisotropy of dry rocks
topic anisotropic media
cracks
seismology
Earth crust
rocks
Poisson ratio
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39981