Mechanical Properties of Rocks

Mechanical
Properties
of Rocks
Mechanical properties are physical
properties that a material exhibits upon
the application of forces.
Mechanical
Properties
Rock mechanical properties mainly
include elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio,
and rock strength. These parameters can
be obtained by lab experiments of core
samples or by in-situ tests.
Elastic properties
(Young’s modulus, shear
modulus, bulk modulus,
and Poisson’s ratio)
Linear Elasticity
Mechanical
Stress and Strain Properties
Inelastic properties
Include:
(fracture gradient and
formation strength)
Plasticity
Plastic Deformation • Strength

Ability of materials to resist and recover from deformations
produced by forces
Applied stress leads to a strain, which is reversible when

the stress is removed
The relationship between stress and strain is linear; only

when changes in the forces are sufficiently small.
Linear
Most sedimentary rocks exhibit non-linear behavior,
plasticity, and even time-dependent deformation (creep).
Elasticity
Most rock mechanics applications are considered linear
• Linear elasticity is simple

• Parameters needed can be estimated from log data & lab tests
 When a stress σ (force per unit area) is applied to
a material such as rock, the material experiences
a change in dimension, volume, or shape.
 This change, or deformation, is called strain (ε).
Stresses can be axial—e.g., directional tension or
simple compression—or shear (tangential), or all-
sided (e.g., hydrostatic compression).
Stress and  The terms stress and pressure are sometimes
used interchangeably, but often stress refers to
strain directional stress or shear stress and pressure (P)
refers to hydrostatic compression.
 For small stresses, the strain is elastic
(recoverable when the stress is removed and
linearly proportional to the applied stress).
 For larger stresses and other conditions, the
strain can be inelastic, or permanent.
Elasticity is the property of matter that causes it
to resist deformation in volume or shape. Hooke’s
law describes the behavior of elastic materials and
states that for small deformations, the resulting
strain is proportional to the applied stress.
Plasticity, ability of certain solids to flow or to Stress and

change shape permanently when subjected to
stresses of intermediate magnitude between those strain
producing temporary deformation, or elastic
behavior, and those causing failure of the
material, or rupture.
• >Plasticity enables a solid under the action of external forces to
undergo permanent deformation without rupture.
• >Plastic deformation occurs in many metal-forming processes
(rolling, pressing, forging) and in geologic processes (rock folding
and rock flow within the earth under extremely high pressures
and at elevated temperatures).
In elastic deformation, there are various constants that relate the magnitude
of the strain response to the applied stress. These elastic constants include
the following:
(1) Young’s modulus (E) is the ratio of the applied stress to the fractional
extension (or shortening) of the sample length parallel to the tension (or
compression). The strain is the linear change in dimension divided by the
original length.
(2) Shear modulus (μ) is the ratio of the applied stress to the distortion
Elastic
(rotation) of a plane originally perpendicular to the applied shear stress; it is
also termed the modulus of rigidity. constants
(3) Bulk modulus (k) is the ratio of the confining pressure to the fractional
reduction of volume in response to the applied hydrostatic pressure. The
volume strain is the change in volume of the sample divided by the original
volume. Bulk modulus is also termed the modulus of incompressibility.
(4) Poisson’s ratio (σp) is the ratio of lateral strain (perpendicular to an

applied stress) to the longitudinal strain (parallel to applied stress).
STRENGTH
 Strength is the ability of a material to resist an externally
applied load, but
 In Rock mechanics, strength is the Force per unit Area
required to bring about rupture in a rock mass at a given
environmental conditions.
 The strength of rock is influenced by the mineralogical
composition, shape of grains, texture, crystallinity,
stratification, lamination, modification by heat or pressure,
and other factors. Secondary processes of cementation and
weathering strongly influence rock strength.
 Classification of strength: depending upon type of loading
and the stresses, the strength in general may be classified as:
>Compressive Strength
>Tensile Strength, and
>Shear Strength
Compressive Strength
 The compressive strength of a material is a measure

of its ability to resist uniaxial compressive loads
without yielding or fracture.
Tensile Strength
o Tensile strength of a material is

defined as the maximum
tensile stress which a material
can develop
o In nature rock mass is rarely
subjected to direct tension, but
it is subjected to tensile
stresses
o Rocks are weak in tension
Shear Strength
o It mostly deals with the shear strength and

shear behavior of the shearing and weakness
planes of the rock which hold together a rock
specimen.
o It is a vital geomechanics measure, used for
design
Borehole instabilities, breakouts, failure
Reservoir shear and induced seismicity

Shearing is
Casing shear and well collapse
associated
Reactivation of old faults, creation of new ones with:
Hydraulic fracture in soft, weak reservoirs
Loss of cohesion and sand production
Bit penetration, particularly PCD bits

Mechanical Properties of Rocks

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Mechanical

Plastic Deformation • Strength

Applied stress leads to a strain, which is reversible when

The relationship between stress and strain is linear; only

• Linear elasticity is simple

Plasticity, ability of certain solids to flow or to Stress and

(4) Poisson’s ratio (σp) is the ratio of lateral strain (perpendicular to an

 The compressive strength of a material is a measure

o Tensile strength of a material is

o It mostly deals with the shear strength and

Reservoir shear and induced seismicity

Loss of cohesion and sand production

Bit penetration, particularly PCD bits

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