August 28, 2006

 

Syllabus: GG 5210& 6211: Seismology I

 

Fall Semester 2006

 

Instructor:  Robert B. Smith                3  semester hours credit

 

MWF: M,W 10:35AM, M 2:00PM; WBB 711

 

Prerq: Differential equations, partial differential equations, linear algebra, vector analysis, and programming experience or equivalent

 

Objectives:  This course is designed to teach the principles of Earth deformation and  wave propagation in elastic and inelastic continua.  The course will provide a basic understanding of continuum mechanics applied to rock deformation and of boundary value problems, followed the development of the elastic wave theory and properties of wave propagation. Tensor and vector operators, partial differential equations, and linear algebra will be routinely used in mathematical developments.

 

The topics will be used to examine Earth processes such as earthquakes and faulting, plastic flow, Earth structure, etc.

 

Computer applications and practical problems in geophysics and tectonophysics will be emphasized.  Students should have a command of UNIX/Linux for use of Matlab or Maple on the SUN workstations or on a PC or Mac.

 

Outline:

 

I.          Introduction

                        Concept of a continuum,

                        Vectors and tensors and their transformations,

 

II.        Stress

                        Stress tensor representations,

                        Principal stresses and principal stress axes,

                        Stress representation and eigenvalue problems,

                        Stress measurements and state of stress in the Earth,

 

III.       Shear Failure in Earth Material's

                        Coulomb and Coulomb-Navier failure criteria,

                        Griffith's theory of fracture.

 

IV.       Finite and Infinitesimal Strain

                        Green's and Cauchy's finite deformation tensors,

                        Measurements of finite strain--geodetic and macroscopic rock deformation,

 

V.        Constitutive Laws (stress-strain Relationships)

                        Constitutive equations and 4th rank tensors,

                        Compliance/stiffness matrices,

                        Elastic modulii,

Helmholz's theorem of elasticity,


VI.       Strain Measurements

                        Examples of micro- and macro-scale earth deformation.

                        Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

                        Strain field of the Earth

                        Fault and volcano strain fields

                        Stress field inversion.

 

VII.      Viscosity and Creep

                        Strain rate tensors,

                        Navier-Stokes equation.

                        Plasticity and yield criteria,

                        Viscoelastic deformation and other non-linear deformation mechanisms

                        Rheological models,

 

VIII.    Equilibrium Conditions

                        Equations of motion,

                        Compatibility equations and biharmonic equations,

                        Examples of stress solutions by biharmonic equations.

 

IX.       Geodynamics

                        Kinematics and dynamics of plates

                        Models of Earth deformation

                        Introduction to boundary element methods of modeling

 

X.        Elastic Wave Theory

                        Dynamic wave equations and Body wave propagation.

                        Method of potentials for solution of wave equations,

                        Solutions of wave equations in various coordinates

                        Boundary condition solutions of wave equations

 

XI.       Wave Transmission

                        Geometrical spreading

                        Anelastic attenuation and Q-1.

 

XII.      Refraction and Reflection Of Elastic Waves

                        Solution of wave equations by potentials,

                        Energy partition at a boundary,

                        Zoeppritz's equations.

 

XIII.    Geometric Ray Theory

                        Fermat's principal and generalized Snell's law,

                        Eikonal equations

                        Ray tracing--parametric equations for traveltimes and amplitudes.

 

XIV     Earth Structure From Seismic Data

                        General Earth velocity models, PREM, from refraction measurements

                        Crust mantle structure

                        Tectonic implications of seismic models


Books:

 

Smith, R. B., 2004, Introduction to tectonophysics  and elastic waves, notes available on class web site: http://www.mines.utah.edu/~rbsmith/TEACHING/GG525/gg525.html

Login: volcanoe  and password: earthquake

 

A disc of my notes will be made available

 

Stein, S., and M. Wysession, 2002, Introduction To Seismology, Earthquakes, and Earth Structure, available in October, 2002.

 

Turcotte, D.L. and G. Schubert, 2002, Geodynamics, J. Wiley and Sons, 2nd edition.

 

Additional references available in the Marriott Library reserve section or in instructors office.

 

Fung, Y.C., 1977, A First Course In Continuum Mechanics, Prentice Hall, Inc. -- the standard continuum mechanics text.

 

Malvern, L., 1969, Introduction to mechanics of a continuous medium, Prentice-Hall,713 pp.

 

Ranalli, G., 1995, Rheology of the Earth, Chapman and Hall, 2nd Edition.

 

Sheriff, R.E. and L.P. Geldart, 1982, Exploration Seismology, Volume 1, History,  theory, and data acquisition, Cambridge University Press -- a good and simple review of wave transmission and traveltime equations

 

Sneider, R. A., 2001, A. Guided Tour of Mathematical Physics, Cambridge Univ. Press, pp: 421, ISBN 0-521-78751-3

 

Timoshenko. S. P., and J. M. Gere, 1997, Mechanics of materials, PWS Publishing Co., 912 pp.

 

Twiss R.J. and E.M. Moores, 1992, Structural Geology, W.H. Freeman and Co. -- this book has new approaches to numerical calculations in stress and strain.

 

Wallace, T. C. and T. Lay, 1995, Modern global seismology, Academic Press.

 

Samizat Press (online free press): http://samizdat.mines.edu/

 

Backus, G, Continuum Mechanics

 

Kennett, B., Continuum Mechanics

 

Sharipov, R., 2004, A Quick Introduction to Tensor Analysis,

 

Computing:  Use of Matlab (or Maple, which is not supported by us) and related programs on the college SUN workstations and on Macs and PCs as available.  Accounts on the college SUN workstations will be available (required) for the class.  For those who do not have a UNIX background, a UNIX Tutorial program (Windows environment) is available to get you started.  This program is located on the SUN workstations served by the college SUN server.

 

Reading: Reading in professional papers with written abstracts and classroom discussions will be assigned.

 

Term Project and Final Exam: A term project will be developed by students in groups of two that demonstrates the methodologies and principles of the course.  The projects will be done in pairs of graduate and undergraduate students where possible. The project may take the place of the final exam depending on class progress.

 

Expectations:  2 hours of study and homework for each hour of lecture.

 

Grading:

One mid term exams                                        30%

            Homework, reading, computer problems         30%

            Term project                                                    20%

            Final                                                                20%

                                                                        Total   100%

 

Teaching Assistants: 

 

Wu-Lung Chang

Jamie Farrell

Christine Puskas