<p>Crustal stress measurements play a crucial role in understanding how the subsurface deforms. As one of the most popular methods for stress characterization in deep wellbores, borehole breakout analysis examines the shape of drilling-induced compressive failures to determine stress directions and magnitudes, assuming that the rock formation is both isotropic and linearly elastic. To ensure accurate stress interpretations, the dissertation investigates the validity of underlying presumptions from two perspectives: (1) the effect of rock anisotropy (i.e., elastic anisotropy, and strength anisotropy) on wellbore failure patterns; and (2) the characterization of rock nonlinear elastic mechanical behaviors. </p> <p>The developed computer program, <em><strong>EASAfail</strong></em>, has broad applicability in calculating wellbore failure patterns for a wide range of scenarios. It takes into account factors such as elastic stiffness matrices of the rock, stress tensors in the surrounding environment, and the presence of weak planes. The program's generality allows it to handle various rock types with different degrees of symmetry in their elastic properties, as well as weak planes that are weaker than the intact rock matrix. By analyzing these factors, the program reveals that the patterns of wellbore failure in elastic and strength anisotropic rock formations are highly influenced by the sliding of weak planes. Complications from two modes of borehole failure, either in the intact rock matrix or in the weak planes, can cause the breakout azimuth to deviate from the direction of the minimum horizontal stress. </p> <p>In addition to hypothetical scenarios generated from numerical models, a case study from the field is presented to underscore the impact of foliations on the anomalous rotations of breakout azimuths. The wellbore was located in Northeastern Alberta, Canada, transecting both the sedimentary column and crystalline basement. Breakout rotations identified from caliper and image logs were highly likely caused by the slippage along foliations, supported by the close correlation between breakout azimuths and dip directions of foliations as well as polarization directions analyzed from dipole sonic logs. Stress magnitudes constrained from Monte Carlo simulations further reveal a lower stress field when rock anisotropy is taken into account, compared to what is inferred conventionally. </p> <p>The characterization of rock nonlinear elasticity involves the utilization of the third-order elastic (TOE) model. To measure the TOE moduli in a static manner, test-specific protocols were proposed based on the nonlinear stress-strain behaviors of the rock. By arranging the stress-strain responses obtained from hydrostatic, uniaxial, and triaxial compressive tests into a linear system of equations, it becomes possible to invert the equations for the TOE moduli. These analytical equations were validated through calculations from finite element models. </p> <p>By employing the established protocols, the TOE moduli were derived for four different rock types with varying pore structures when subjected to hydrostatic and uniaxial compressions. The TOE model successfully captured the nonlinear stress-strain responses exhibited by Indiana limestone, Vif-type Fontainebleau sandstone, and Snake River Plain basalt. However, it was found to be inadequate for Franc-type Fontainebleau sandstone, which displayed noticeable hysteresis and experienced significant strains. Future geomechanical applications will undoubtedly gain advantages from utilizing the inverted TOE moduli obtained through static measurements, as they allow for the examination of the impacts of nonlinear elasticity in rocks. </p>

Cette thèse de doctorat porte sur la conception et la fabrication de microfils optiques de silice par la technique de fusion et d'étirage de fibres optiques standards, ainsi qu'une étude détaillée de leurs propriétés élastiques par spectroscopie Brillouin. Nous apportons une description complète, théorique et expérimentale, des spectres Brillouin rétro-diffusés par les microfils, révélant ainsi l'existence de plusieurs familles d'ondes élastiques, telles que les ondes hybrides et surfacique, ainsi que de nombreux anti-croisements. En exploitant l'ensemble de ces propriétés élastiques, nous démontrons ensuite une technique de mesure optique, simple et non-destructive, du diamètre des microfils et de leur uniformité, avec une très grande précision et une sensibilité de quelques nanomètres, comparable aux techniques conventionnelles comme la microscopie par balayage électronique. Nous réalisons en supplément une cartographie des ondes élastiques le long des microfils optiques par la technique de corrélation Brillouin de phase. Une autre étude majeure de cette thèse a porté sur la dépendance du spectre Brillouin en fonction d'une déformation axiale des microfils optiques qui présentent une très grande élasticité et des coefficients de contraintes élevés. Pour la première fois à notre connaissance, nous avons observé l’effet des non-linéaritiés des constantes élastiques de la silice dans un microfil optique fortement déformé sur les coefficients de contraintes. L'ensemble de ces travaux représente une étude fondamentale du processus de diffusion Brillouin dans les microfils optiques et permet également d'ouvrir la voie aux développements de dispositifs photoniques compacts dans le domaine des capteurs et des télécommunications. / This thesis reports the design and fabrication of subwavelength-diameter silica optical fibers, also known as optical micro and nanowires. These hair-like slivers of glass, manufactured by tapering optical fibers down to a size hundred times smaller than a strand of human hair, have a number of optical and mechanical properties that make them very attractive for both fundamental physics and technological applications. In addition to providing strong light confinement and enhanced nonlinear optical effects, they exhibit a large evanescent field, enabling applications not currently possible with comparatively bulky optical fibers.We here explore their elastic properties through Brillouin spectroscopy. We specifically provide a complete description, both theoretically and experimentally, of the backward Brillouin spectra including the observation of both bulk hybrid and surface acoustic waves with many anti-crossings. A very good agreement is found between numerical simulations of the elastodynamics equation and the experimental Brillouin spectra for a wide range of wire diameters. From this study, we demonstrate a simple and non-destructive in-situ technique for measuring the diameter of these ultra-thin fibers and their uniformity with a high sensitivity of only a few nanometers. A distributed measurement of both the surface and hybrid acoustic waves along an optical microwire was then performed using Brillouin optical correlation technique. We further investigate the tensile strain dependence of Brillouin scattering in optical microwires and report, for the first time to our knowledge, evidence of a strong elasticity and non-linearity of the elastic constants of silica. This thesis therefore demonstrates that optical microwires can find various potential applications for strain optical sensing.