Module 1: Basic Rock Mechanics

WE-054 Rock Mechanics for Well Engineers

TM

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Rock Mechanics (Stress)

 stress: introduction
 components of force and stress
 resolving forces and stresses
 Mohr's circle of stress
 states of stress

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Definitions

 Mechanics. Study of forces that act on bodies and the consequent

motions
 Rock Mechanics. Study of forces and consequent motion
(deformation) of rocks
 Geomechanics. Study of forces and consequent motion (deformation)
within the earth
 Petroleum Geomechanics. Geomechanics as applied to the oil field.
 In Situ Stress. Contemporary state-of-stress within the subsurface (cf.
evolution of stress through geological time)

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Definitions

 The difference between a scalar, a vector and a tensor

 A scalar is a quantity with magnitude only.
 Such as: temperature, time, mass and pure colour-they are described
completely by one value, e.g. degrees, seconds, kilograms and frequency.
 A vector is a quantity with magnitude and direction.
 Examples of vectors are force, velocity, acceleration and the frequency of
fractures encountered along a line in a rock mass.
 They are described completely by three values, for example, x, y, z
components which together specify both direction and magnitude.
 A tensor is a quantity with magnitude, direction and the “plane under
consideration”.
 Examples of tensors are stress, strain, permeability and moment of inertia-
they are described completely by six values.

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Stress Definition

Force
Stress 
Area
 N/m2 or Pa (mks)
 dynes/cm2 (cgs) = 10-1Pa
 (psi = 6895 Pa)

F F

A' A
 Normal stress
N
 n  lim
A 0 A

 Shear stress
S
  lim
A  0  A

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Stress & Pressure

 Both stress and pressure given by F/A, but stress implies sense of
directionality (eg. vertical stress), whereas pressure implies stresses in
all directions are equal (eg. hydrostatic)

v
P

H P

h P
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Units of Stress/Pressure

e.g. 1 bar = 14.503 psi

1MPa = 10 bar
45 MPa = 6526 psi

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Density, Pressure & Pressure Gradient

Pressure at depth in subsurface = rgh

Density = P/gh
Pressure gradient =rg
 Hence, density and pressure gradient often used to express depth-
normalised “pressure” in oil field

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Density, Pressure & Pressure Gradient

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Stress and Strain

 stress = force/area (Nm-2 or Pa)

 strain = fractional change in L or V

L
el 
L
V
ev 
V

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Elastic Deformation
elastic ductile
field field
fracture
point

yield
point

strain
• instantaneous response to stress
• strain is recoverable
• Hooke's Law:  = ke
• k is modulus (gradient of stress/strain curve, resistance to deformation)
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Vertical Stress Component

 As rules of thumb, taking the typical density of rock into account:

 1 MPa is induced by 40 m of overlying rock, or
 1 psi is induced by 1 ft of overlying rock.
 More generally, we should use the expression:
 induced vertical stress, v  z MPa

 where z is the depth, measured in metres, below the ground surface

and  is the unit weight, measured in MN/m3.

 Examples of  are:
  = 0.01 MN/m3 for some coals,
  = 0.023 MN/m3 for some shales,
  = 0.03 MN/m3 for gabbro.
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Horizontal stress Components

 A horizontal stress would be induced as a result of the vertical

compression of the rock.
 To provide an initial estimate of this stress, based on elasticity theory
and assuming isotropic rock the applied axial stress is a and the
resulting axial strain is a.

 There is also a lateral strain induced, l because the element expands

laterally as it is being axially compressed.

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Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio
l

F F

l + ∆l
Axial Stress F A   a
Young' s Module E  
Axial Strain l l  a

Lateral Strain  l
Poisson' s Ratio    
Axial Strain a

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Rock Mechanics (Stress)

 stress: introduction
 components of force and stress
 resolving forces and stresses
 Mohr's circle of stress
 states of stress

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Components of Force in 2D

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Components of Force in 3D

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Components of Stress in 3D

cube infinitesimal cube

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Stress Tensor

11 12 13

21 22 23
31 32 33
ij
i=j: normal stress (3 normal stress components)
i≠j: shear stress (3 shear stress components)

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Principal Stresses

 at any point in homogeneous stress field can find three planes upon
which shear stresses are zero: principal planes of stress
 stresses acting on (normal to) these planes are principal stresses
1,  2 & 3

 state of stress characterised by:

 six independent stress components, or
 magnitude and direction of 1, 2 & 3

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Rock Mechanics (Stress)

 stress: introduction
 components of force and stress
 resolving forces and stresses
 Mohr's circle of stress
 states of stress

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Resolving Forces
Fn
 (1) NORMAL FORCE
 Acts normal to the plane P

Fs
 (2) SHEAR FORCE
 Acts parallel to the plane
P

 Any FORCE (F) can be resolved into its NORMAL (Fn) and
 SHEAR (Fs) components
F
Fn
where : F = Fn + Fs Fs
NB Stresses can not be resolved P
as if they were vector quantities

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Resolving Forces

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Resolving Forces

 Consider the shear force and shear stress on a plane parallel to the
applied stress.
 Strike-slip faults are NOT parallel to principal stresses!
 Resolving N and S on Planes of Varying Orientation
1


2

n = 1/2(1 +2) +1/2(1 -2) cos2

s = -1/2(1-2sin2
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Stress-Strain Curve

 Under the loading conditions shown in the diagram, the peak stress is
the uniaxial compressive strength, c

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Stress-Strain Curve: The Size Effect

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Stress-Strain Curve: The Shape Effect

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Stress-Strain Curve: The Confining Pressure Effect

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Rock Mechanics (Stress)

 stress: introduction
 components of force and stress
 resolving forces and stresses
 Mohr's circle of stress
 states of stress

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Mohr's Circle of Stress

 the relations for shear and normal stress describe a circle

RADIUS (1 - 2)/2
CENTRE (1+ 2)/2
1   2
2

1   2
2
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Mohr's Circle of Stress

1   2
s 2 P (n, -s)

-2

n


2

1
1   2
2
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 Use of Mohr's Circle of Stress

 infinite number of points representing planes of all possible

orientations in the stress field
1
1
s
90-
n
 n , s

2
n
-2
2 s

2 1

With 1 & 2, we can find n and s on any plane

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 Use of Mohr's Circle of Stress

 infinite number of points representing planes of all possible

orientations in the stress field
1
1
s
90-
n
 n , s

2
n
2
2 s

2 1

With n & s on 2 orthogonal planes can find , 1 & 2

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The Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

 The plane along which failure occurs and the Mohr envelope:

 From the initial principal stresses, the normal stress and shear stress
on a plane at any angle can be found using the transformation
equations, as represented by Mohr’s circle.
1

   0   n

n
 0  cohesion
  coefficient of friction

3
 
1
 1   3 sin 2 
2
 n   1   3    1   3 cos 2
1 1
2 2
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The Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

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Variation of Normal and Shear Stresses

 on a plane normal to 1
 on a plane parallel to 1
 on a plane at 45° to 1
 on a plane 30° to 1
 on a plane 60° to 1

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Mohr's Circle in Three Dimensions

 A Mohr circle may be drawn for each of the family of planes parallel to
one of the principal directions of stress.

1 P
P
3 2 1

3
10 20 30
2
MPa

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Rock Mechanics (Stress)

 stress: introduction
 components of force and stress
 resolving forces and stresses
 Mohr's circle of stress
 states of stress

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States of Stress
s
 General Compression

-ve +ve
n

 General Tension

 Compression & Tension

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Uniaxial Stress
max s = 1/2 1
 Uniaxial Compression
 Compression Test
 One principal stress zero

1

2 0 1
 Uniaxial Tension max s = 1/2 2
 Tensile Test

2
2 1 0

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Lithostatic/Hydrostatic Stress

 All stresses are equal

 Hydrostatic Compression
 No shear stresses
 Confining pressure
 rg h

 Hydrostatic Tension
 RARE

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Biaxial Stress

Biaxial
Compression

ONE PRINCIPAL STRESS ZERO,

TWO STRESSES NON ZERO

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Triaxial Stress

Triaxial
Compression

ALL THREE PRINCIPAL STRESSES NON ZERO

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So far…

 After studying this module, you will be able to:

 Become familiar with key terms and definitions of rock mechanics and
conventions.
 Understand the relationship between deformation and stress involved.
 Familiarise with the Mohr's circle of stress and its criterion of failure.

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