SOLVED PROBLEMS
1. In 1979, a measurement was made on campus: AB = 25 m in the E-W direction,
and AC = 15 m in a N-S direction. B is west of A, and C is north of A. Twenty
years later, you repeat the survey again. You find that A have moved to A', B to B'
and C to C'. A has moved south to A' about 6 cm away. BB' is also 6 cm long, in
the east direction. CC' is 20 cm long and its direction is .
(a) Compute as best you can, associated with the
deformation of triangle ABC. Hint: a drawing may be very helpful.
(b) Compute the per year strain rates. (Note: strain rates are usually written as
.)
1. (a) Deformation of the configuration is sketched below.
The thin blue lines represent the original configuration, and the thick red lines
represent the deformed configuration.
Strains can be calculated according to the examples given in class.
Because strains are defined as the ratio between the change of length to the
original length,
For shear strain , rotations of AB and AC need to be considered. Because
and are small, .
(b) The observed strains took 20 years to accumulate. Thus, the corresponding
strain rates can be calculated by dividing strains with a time span of 20 years.
2. Show that the value of Poisson's Ratio is 0.5 for an element that is isotropic
(i.e., if a stress is applied in the x direction, deformations in the y and z directions
are identical) and dilatation-free (i.e., volume dilatation = 0). Note that this
value turns out to be the maximum value for Poisson's Ratio for any material.
2. Dilatation free suggests that there is no volume change during deformation. In
other
words,
Assuming loading is in the x-direction, isotropic implies that .
Substituting into the equation above, we have
The definition of Poisson's Ratio is
Thus, under isotropic, dilatation free conditions, the maximum value of Poisson's
Ratio is 1/2.
3. A rock sample is 65 cm long, 4 cm thick and 4 cm wide. You position it upright
so that the long side is vertical. You then apply a load to it with a weight of 2000
kg of mass. The rock sample is now under compression. A new measurement of
its length under such a loading condition shows that it has been shortened by
0.125 mm. Calculate the Young's modulus of the rock sample. Further, the other
two dimensions are found to have changed by 0.002 mm. Calculate the Poisson's
ratio of the rock, and indicate if the rock sample has been stretched or shortened
in these two other directions.
3. Configuration of the loading problem is sketched below.
Let us first define a coordinate system such that x is pointing vertically
downward. Force exerted by the mass is
. The corresponding stress
is calculated below.
Strain of the rock sample is . Hence,
the corresponding Young's modulus becomes:
To calculate Poisson's Ratio, we need to find strain in either the y-direction or the
z-direction. Thus, Poisson's ratio is
given by the following.
Under uni-axial loading conditions, deformation in the load-free directions are
always opposite in sign to that in the loading direction. In our case, the load is a
compressive load. Therefore, strain is negative. The corresponding strains in the
y-direction and the z-direction will be extensional (or stretching) resulting in a
positive strain.
PROBLEM SETS
1. Given the reversed refraction observations (travel time vs. distance curves) shown
below, calculate the velocities and depths to the interfaces. Calculate the dip angles of the
interfaces.
2. Given the following schematic travel-time curves, describe a subsurface structure
and/or velocity changes that may explain them.
3. A rock sample is taken to the lab and is subjected to a uniaxial stress (that is, it is
stressed in only one direction with the remaining directions free). As a result of the
stress, the length of the sample increases by 3% and the width decreases by 1%. What
is the ratio of the P wave velocity to the S wave velocity in this sample?
4. Two seismic reflection profiles are shot, the first along a north-south line and the
second along a line oriented 45 east of north. The first profile reveals an interface
o
dipping to the north at 20 , while the second reveals an interface dipping to the
o
northeast at 35 . What is the true strike and dip of the interface?.
o
5. A material has a shear modulus of 8.8109 Pa, a bulk modulus of 2.351010 Pa, a
density of 2200 kg/m3 and a quality factor Q = 100.
a) What are the P-wave velocity and S-wave velocity of the medium, in units of km/s ?
b) If a P-wave of frequency 10 Hz has a displacement amplitude of 1 m at a distance of
10 m from the source, what would be the wave amplitude at 100 m?
6. Near-surface fresh water in a Lake Superior has been observed to have a P-wave
velocity of 1435 meters/sec. Estimate its bulk modulus, assuming it is pure water.
2. A laboratory has determined that the Gabbro has the following properties:
Bulk modulus= 0.952130 X 1012 dyne/cm2
Shear modulus=0.403425 X 1012 dyne/cm2
Density=2.931 gm/cc
Determine the (a) shear wave velocity, the (b) compressional wave velocity, and (c)
Poisson's ratio for this rock.
7. While attempting to put in a water-well near Longville, Minnesota, a driller encountered fresh
granite at "about 50 feet". Because the glacial till, which largely consists of unconsolidated clay
and silt, is usually thicker in this region, the driller first suspected that he had hit a boulder. Upon
drilling a "few more feet", however, the granite persisted, leading the driller to fear that he had
indeed hit bedrock, and that further drilling might result in an expensive and potentially
unproductive water well.
A seismic refraction survey that used a sledge hammer for an energy source was conducted at the
site to investigate the depth to bedrock. The observed first breaks were as follows:
Dist. from t first break
source (ft.) (milliseconds)
----------------------------------
5 5.19
10 9.74
30 21.8
60 34.9
90 40.7
120 46.7
150 51.1
180 54.3
210 59.3
240 65.5
270 72.2
300 75.2
330 79.8
A reversed profile (not given) was essentially identical, and, therefore, horizontal layering can be
assumed. Plot the travel time graph (x-horizontal, t-vertical) and assuming a two-layer model,
estimate v1, v2 and h1. Assuming a velocity of 18,000 feet/second for fresh granite,
do you see any evidence of granite bedrock in the profile? If so, what is the depth? If not, what is
the minimum depth that granite could occur?
Do you think that the driller hit bedrock or a very large boulder?
8. In Todd County, Minnesota a seismic refraction survey was conducted along an abandoned
railroad grade about 2.5 miles southeast of the town of Osakis. The railroad grade is known to be
resting on Pleistocene glacial deposits. A 12 channel system was used with an sledge hammer for
an energy source, and the following first break times were picked from the traces.
Distance First break time
(meters) (milliseconds)
5 14
15 23
25 30
35 36.75
45 42
55 50
65 54.5
75 61
85 65.5
95 66.5
105 70
115 73.25
A reversed profile yielded essentially identical results, so we can assume horizontal layering. It is
assumed that the first and second layers will represent the grade fill and the glacial deposits,
respectively.
Plot the travel time relationships and estimate the velocities of the first two layers (in
meter/second). What is the thickness of the grade fill?
Based on your velocity estimate for the second layer, do you think the glacial deposits are
saturated or unsaturated (below or above the water table)?
Do you have any evidence of bedrock (ie a third layer) below the glacial deposits? If so, what is
its velocity (in meters/second) and depth?
FOR PURPOSE OF IP SURVEY, RESISTIVITY VALUES ARE DETERMINED FROM .9
BOTH DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT USING THE SAME ELECTRODE
ARRANGEMENT. IF THE RESISTIVITY FOR DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT
ARE Rdc = 50 OHM.M AND Rac = 40 OHM.M, RESPECTIVELY. WHAT WILL THE
.FREQUENCY EFFECT AND THE METAL FACTOR VALUES BE
10. DESCRIBE THE APPLICABILITIES OF SEIMIC AND ELECTRICAL ( WENNER,
SCHLUMBERGER, DIPOLE-DIPOLE) , AND GROUND PENETRATING RADAR (GPR )
METHODS FOR INVESTIGATING THE FOLLOWING TARGETS :
A. SOLUTION CAVITIES AND FRACTURES IN LIMESTONE FORMATION.
B. SPHALERITE AND GALENA (LEAD AND ZINC ORES ) MASSIVE SULFIDE
DEPOSITS IN A DOLOMITE / MARBLE FORMATION.
C. MAPPING OF SALWATER / FRESHWATER INTERFACE ; SATURATED AND
UNSATURATED ZONES IN COASTAL AREAS.
D. ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
11. CALCULATE ELEVATION AND WEATHERING CORRECTIONS FOR THE THREE
GEOPHONE LOCATIONS IN THE ACCOMPANYING SKETCH.
12. SUPPOSE THAT A REVERSED REFRACTION SURVEY ( USING SHOTS A AND B )
INDICATED VELOCITIES V1 = 1500 M/SEC. AND V2 = 2500 M/SEC. FROM SHOT A AND
VELOCITIES V1 = 1500 M/SEC AND V2 = 3250 M/SEC. FROM SHOT B.
FIND THE DIP OF REFRACTOR. WHAT WOULD BE THE CHANGES IN VELOCITIES IF
THE FEFRACTOR HAD A SLOPE 10 DEGREES LARGER THAN THE ONE YOU
COMPUTED.
13. SUPPOSE THAT THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IS MEASURED WITH AN
ELECTRODE SYSTEM FOR WHICH ONE OF THE CURRENT ELECTRODES AND ONE
FOR THE POTENTIAL ELECTRODES ARE AT INFINITY. USING THE FIGURE BELOW,
AND A CURRENT OF 0.5 AMPERE.
COMPUTE THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES AT PA AND
INFINITY FOR d1 = 50 m, d2 = 100 m, R1 = 30 Ohm-m, R2 = 350 Ohm-m.
A SET OF SEISMIC REFRACTIN FIELD DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR BOTH .14 .
: FORWARD AND REVERSE SHOTS AS GIVEN BELOW
DISTANCE ( FT) ELEVATION ( FT) ARRIVAL TIMES ( MSEC)
SHOT A SHOT B
--------- 105 0 ( SHOT A) 0
274 48 103 100
252 93 101 200
237 136 95 300
221 139 90 400
211 151 85 500
221 176 110 600
212 202 110 700
204 221 105 800
179 238 100 900
136 237 105 1000
47 271 110 1200
95 ----- 0 (SHOT B) 1300
A. PLOT T-X CURVE ( WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION ). ASSUMING A SLOPING
LAYER, OBTAIN AND PLOT THE SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE.
B. APPLY AN ELEVATION CORRECTION TO EACH STATION FOR THE ENTIRE
RECORDS. RE-INTERPRET THE T-X CURVE AND PLOT THE SUBSURFACE
STRUCTURE.
C. APPLY BARTHELEMES DELAY TIME METHOD FOR EACH SHOT POINT A
AND B. DRAW THE FINAL CROSS-SECTION OF THE SUBSURFACE ALONG
WITH THE SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY.
15. DETERMINE THE SUITABLE OIL ACCUMULATION FROM THE CROSS-
SECTION SHOWN BELOW.
