Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension?

Details Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension? Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension?

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufm.p21b0536r&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #P21B-0536

Physics

5422 Ices, 6221 Europa, 6280 Saturnian Satellites, 8010 Fractures And Faults

Scientific paper

The ongoing eruption of water vapor and ice on Enceladus and proposed past eruptions of liquid water on Europa have led to discussion about the feasibility of cracking a planetary ice shell. We use a boundary element method to model crack propagation in an elastic layer subjected to tension and hydrostatic compression. We consider the presence of a region at the base of the ice shell in which the far-field extensional stresses vanish due to viscoelastic relaxation, impeding the propagation of fractures towards the subsurface ocean. The maximum extent of fracture propagation can be limited by hydrostatic pressure or by the presence of the unstressed basal zone, depending on its thickness. Our simulation results indicate that Enceladus' ice shell may be cracked if it is capable of supporting ~1-3 MPa tension and is less than ~30 km thick. Europa's ice shell may only be cracked under 1-3 MPa tension if it is about 1 km thick.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Is it possible to crack in the absence of tension? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1485179