Stress Field of the Earth

Arno Zang

This course explores the stress field in the Earth’s crust and its importance in understanding local and regional tectonics. It begins with the basics of rock mechanics, introducing concepts like stress, fracture criteria, and simple stress models for the crust. Students will then learn about practical methods to measure stress, focusing on widely used techniques such as overcoring, hydraulic fracturing, and borehole breakout analysis. Advanced technologies like the Kaiser effect and quadruple packers are also introduced.

In the final part, we examine stress profiles from global field projects, such as those investigating earthquake faults and energy technologies like geothermal systems. Real-world data, including examples from ultra-deep drilling and seismic fault zones, are related to broader tectonic stresses and plate movements. This course is ideal for anyone curious about how stress shapes the Earth and its applications in geosciences and engineering.