Experimental Determination of Elastic Anisotropy of Berea Sandstone, Chicopee Shale and Chelmsford Granite

We use the ultrasonic transmission method to measure P-, SH-, and SV-wave velocities for Chelmsford Granite, Chicopee Shale, and Berea Sandstone in different directions up to 1000 bars confining pressure. The velocity measurements indicate that these three rocks are elastically anisotropic. The s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: La, Tien-when, Coyner, Karl B., Toksoz, M. Nafi
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory
Format: Technical Report
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/75074
Description
Summary:We use the ultrasonic transmission method to measure P-, SH-, and SV-wave velocities for Chelmsford Granite, Chicopee Shale, and Berea Sandstone in different directions up to 1000 bars confining pressure. The velocity measurements indicate that these three rocks are elastically anisotropic. The stiffness constants, dynamic Young's moduli, dynamic Poisson's ratios, and dynamic bulk moduli of these three rocks were also calculated. These elastic constants, together with velocity measurements, suggest that: (1) Elastic anisotropy is due to the combined effects of pores/cracks and mineral grain orientation. (2) Elastic anisotropy decreases with increasing confining pressure. The residual anisotropy at higher confining pressure is due to mineral grain orientation.