Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-125). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-61).

No description available.

The Eastern Alps are a belt of major deformation formed by the convergence and collision of Europe with the Adriatic microcontinent. A major tectonic boundary can be defined between the dominantly continental Austroalpine domain, which represents the northerly fringe of Adria; and the Pennine oceanic domain, which once lay between the Austroalpine domain and Europe. This boundary is one of the key areas for unravelling the convergent tectonic history of the Eastern Alps. The main emphasis of this thesis is on the deformational behaviour of the Austroalpine domain and its implications for the regional tectonic processes that were instrumental in forming the structure of the Eastern Alps. The data for this work are derived from structural and metamorphic studies in the S.E. Tauern in profiles straddling the boundary, and a review of the published regional geology. The first manifestation of convergence is the development of a broad zone of thickened crust, including both Pennine and Austroalpine units, which underwent Cretaceous burial metamorphism. Postdating this thermal event in the Austroalpine domain, there was a further phase of regional deformation, which caused substantial reduction in the structural thickness. To the south of the Tauern Window, a study of the associated kinematic development gives a minimum estimate of 10km for this thinning, which radiometric dating suggests took place while convergence was still active. A comparable 10km post-metamorphic thinning is suggested throughout the Austroalpine domain in the Eastern Alps by the shortfall in the overburden compared to the depth of burial indicated by the Cretaceous metamorphic conditions. Major extension in a dominantly convergent tectonic setting cannot be accounted for by the paradigm of plate tectonics and implies that body forces acting on the thickened crust of the destructive margin were a major driving force for deformation.

Thesis (doctoral)--Université de Rennes I, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

The stress state at the boundary of any underground mine opening is that of plane stress. This planar state of stress can be simulated in laboratory by subjecting a cubic rock specimen to a biaxial loading condition. Thus, research on the behaviour of biaxially loaded rock is important for better understanding of the stability of mining fronts such as crown pillar skin, drift face or shaft floor. / The objective of this research is to study the geomechanical behaviour of biaxially loaded rock. Three rock types were selected, namely limestone, granite and sandstone. / The laboratory work was conducted using a newly developed, 500-tonne biaxial loading frame, that is equipped with a servo-controlled load and displacement system. Recently patented in China, the new biaxial loading frame is spatially symmetric and equally rigid in both directions. Steel brush platens and solid platens with and without MoS2 were developed to help examine the end friction effect on biaxial strength. It is found that the biaxial strength can decrease up to 26.7% with the increase of cubic specimen size from 75 mm to 150 mm. The biaxial strength increases by 29.3% with the increase of loading rate from 1 MPa/s to 10 MPa/s, for granite. The biaxial strength of granite specimen decreases by nearly 6% when either solid platens with MoS 2 lubricant or brush platens are used. A comparison of the sigma 1-sigma2 failure envelopes reveals that the shape of the envelope and the location of the peak biaxial strength are dependent on the rock type. / Varying intensities of rock spalling generally initiate at the free faces of the specimen when sigma1 and sigma2 exceed sigma c/2. Ultimate failure occurs in the form of an out-of-plane shear failure, which splits the rock specimen into two or more wedges. / It is shown that both Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria underestimate the biaxial strength of the rock. The Drucker-Prager failure criterion appears to provide poor correlation with experimental results. A new empirical biaxial rock failure criterion for intact rock is derived and another, accounting for rock mass characteristics through the Geological Strength Index (GSI), is then proposed.

The development of a petroleum reservoir would inevitably induce a rearrangement of the in-situ stress field. The rearrangement of the stress field would then bring about a deformation of the reservoir rock and a change of the permeability. This experimental study was carried out to investigate rock deformation and its impact on axial permeability. Triaxial compression tests were conducted on Berea sandstone, Indiana limestone, Westerly granite and tuff specimens. Axial permeability was continuously measured for Berea sandstone and Indiana limestone during triaxial compression tests. The axial permeability of fractured Westerly granite specimens was also measured during hydrostatic compression tests. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was performed to help improve the understanding of rock deformation. Results showed that Berea sandstone and Westerly granite were relatively brittle, while Indiana limestone and tuff were relatively ductile. Rock deformation altered pore structures and the change of pore structures considerably impacted fluid flow through rock. For porous Berea sandstone and Indiana limestone, the destruction of the pore structure by rock deformation led to a decrease in axial permeability. For tight Westerly granite, fractures created by rock deformation significantly improved the ease of fluid flow. Acoustic emission response was found to be strongly dependent on rock type. Brittle Berea sandstone and Westerly granite produced high AE rates during compression tests, while ductile Indiana limestone and tuff generated very low AE rates.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-73). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on April 15, 2009) Includes bibliographical references.