Changes

Physical models are constructed from rocks or a variety of materials including clay, sand, and putty.

Physical models are constructed from rocks or a variety of materials including clay, sand, and putty.

* '''Rock mechanics models''' are designed and run to gain information on the strength and deformation mechanisms of rocks when subjected to various loads and displacements under controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, strain rate, and pore fluid pressure and chemistry. The starting configuration of these models is usually a right circular cylinder composed of the rock(s) being studied.

* '''Rock mechanics models''' are designed and run to gain information on the strength and [[deformation]] mechanisms of rocks when subjected to various loads and displacements under controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, strain rate, and pore fluid pressure and chemistry. The starting configuration of these models is usually a right circular cylinder composed of the rock(s) being studied.

* '''Photoelastic models''' provide information on stress magnitude and orientation. They are made of transparent materials such as clear plastics or gelatins. When deformed and examined in polarized light, these materials exhibit color fringes and alternating light and dark bands. From these, we can determine the stress intensity and the orientation of the principal stresses at any point in the model.

* '''Photoelastic models''' provide information on stress magnitude and orientation. They are made of transparent materials such as clear plastics or gelatins. When deformed and examined in polarized light, these materials exhibit color fringes and alternating light and dark bands. From these, we can determine the stress intensity and the orientation of the principal stresses at any point in the model.

* '''Geometric models''' reproduce the shape of naturally occurring structures. The starting configuration is usually a layered rectangular block or some variation thereof. Displacements are imposed at the boundaries of the block to create the desired deformation. The hope is that if we can create a good geometric analog of a natural structure under conditions we specify and control, then we will gain a better understanding of the conditions that influence the development of the natural structure. This highlights an important role of these models: they generate hypotheses or ideas regarding the development and final shape of natural structures—ideas that may not occur to us even after careful study of structures in the field.

* '''Geometric models''' reproduce the shape of naturally occurring structures. The starting configuration is usually a layered rectangular block or some variation thereof. Displacements are imposed at the boundaries of the block to create the desired deformation. The hope is that if we can create a good geometric analog of a natural structure under conditions we specify and control, then we will gain a better understanding of the conditions that influence the development of the natural structure. This highlights an important role of these models: they generate hypotheses or ideas regarding the development and final shape of natural structures—ideas that may not occur to us even after careful study of structures in the field.