Geodynamics and Continuum Mechanics

Available Lectures: 7
Geodynamics and Continuum Mechanics

Uwe Walzer

Lecture, 2 hours per week for geophysicists. An exercise of one hour
per semester week is offered.

Contents: The lecture is based on theoretical physics. Vectors,
tensors, deformation, rotation, translation, stress, Cauchy
tetrahedron, principal axis representation, invariants, principal
stresses, stress deviator, Mohr stress circles, geologic faults and
seismic focal mechanisms, in-situ stress measurements, stress
distribution in North America and Central Europe, stresses on oceanic
lithospheric plates, equation of motion of continuum mechanics,
conservation of angular momentum and Cauchy tetrahedra (including in
micromorphic media), conservation of energy, entropy theorem, laws of
matter, geochemical reservoirs in the mantle, dimensionless variable,
numerical solution of mantle convection differential equations,
graphical representation, Earth's energy budget, geothermal energy,
equilibrium and steady states, equations of state of geodynamically
relevant gases.

Suitable for: Graduate students, geophysicists, physicists, etc.

Certificate of achievement: Written exam

Reference:
Karato, S.-i. et al. (Eds), 2000. Earth's Deep Interior. Mineral
Physics and Tomography. From the Atomic to the Global Scale.
Washington DC; American Geophysical Union [R:43:117/2]
Karato, S.-i.; Toriumi, M.; 1989. Rheology of Solids and of the Earth.
Oxford etc.; Oxford Univ. Press [1989:36]
Nabarro, F.R.N.; de Villiers; 1995. The Physics of Creep. Bristol, PA;
Taylor & Francis Inc. [1995:161]
Oertel, G., 1996. Stress and Deformation. New York, Oxford; Oxford
Univ. Press. [1996:24]
Salmon, R., 1998. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. New York, Oxford; Oxford
Univ. Press [1998:83]
Walzer, U., Begleitheft zur Vorlesung Geodynamik und Kontinuumsmechanik
Wilmanski, K., 1998. Thermomechanics of Continua. Berlin, Heidelberg;
Springer. [1998:84]