forces. While these words are, perhaps, appropriate for ordinary conversations about structures,
they lack the formal definition that might make
them useful in a quantitative analysis. In this
chapter we have introduced the concept of elasticity and the elastic properties of rock. These
properties are useful in quantitative investigations of geologic structures because they provide
precise measures of the relationship between
stress and strain. To understand the tectonic
processes that lead to the development of geological structures one must choose an appropriate
boundary or initial value problem to serve as a
mechanical model. To formulate such a problem
one must postulate a particular mechanical
behavior. Here we have chosen Hooke’s Law for the
linear elastic solid; in Chapter 10 we choose
Newton’s relation for the linear viscous fluid.
332
ELASTIC DEFORMATION
they lack the formal definition that might make
them useful in a quantitative analysis. In this
chapter we have introduced the concept of elasticity and the elastic properties of rock. These
properties are useful in quantitative investigations of geologic structures because they provide
precise measures of the relationship between
stress and strain. To understand the tectonic
processes that lead to the development of geological structures one must choose an appropriate
boundary or initial value problem to serve as a
mechanical model. To formulate such a problem
one must postulate a particular mechanical
behavior. Here we have chosen Hooke’s Law for the
linear elastic solid; in Chapter 10 we choose
Newton’s relation for the linear viscous fluid.
332
ELASTIC DEFORMATION