On Stability of Stratified Elastic Geosystems in a Gravity Field

Abstract

Stability of stratified elastic geosystems in a gravity field is studied analytically with regard for the shear stiffness of geomaterial. A sufficient condition for stability of a geomass clamped at the lateral boundaries, is obtained: for any ratios of dimensions of the geomass it is sufficient for stability that the rate of density increase with depth (in the loaded equilibrium state) exceed a certain positive value which depends on shear stiffness so that the greater the stiffness, the less the value, and vice versa (the stabilizing effect of shear stiffness). At zero shear stiffness the value mentioned is maximal and characterizes the necessary and sufficient condition for stability of a bulk–elastic geomass. Geophysical consequences of obtained stability condition are analyzed.