Craig Steven Alford MSc thesis abstract

Thesis Title: 
"Tectonic" Magnetic Fabrics in Pure and Simple Shear: Experimental Investigations
Craig Steven
Alford
MSc
1988

Triaxial compression tests were preformed such that changes in the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy with strain would be represented by experimental approximations of simple shear and pure shear.  Both types of tests were performed on artificial materials of high magnetic susceptibility at room temperature and atmospheric pore fluid pressure.  Experimental displacement-rates and strain-rates were computer controlled during testing.

Two different shear zone materials were employed for the "simple shear" testing, a sand-cement mixture and a calcite-cement mixture.   Three series of simple shear tests were conducted on the sand-cement material at various confining pressures; Series A, at 0.689 kbars, Series B at 1.0 kbar and Series C at 1.5 kbars.  Two series of simple shear tests were conducted on the calcite-cement material, Series 1, at 1.0 kbar confining pressure and Series 2 at 1.5 kbars Pc.  For both materials a constant axial displacement-rate of 5.0 x 10-6 inches.  s-1 (corresponding to a slip displacement-rate on the shear zone walls of 8.7 x 10-6 inches. s-1) was employed.  Final shear strain values ranged from 0.025(to 0.378(. 

One series of pure shear deformation was conducted on the calcite-cement material at 1.5 kbars confining pressure employing a constant natural strain-rate of 5.0 x 10-6s-1.  Final axial strain values ranged from 4.42% to 18.3% shortening.

The development of simulated "tectonic" magnetic fabrics in both pure and simple shear has been achieved.  Principal directions of susceptibility rotate sometimes in complex patterns toward 'tectonically' significant stable orientations.  Magnitudes of susceptibility show progressive changes consonant with the intensity of strain such that there appears to exist a consistent relation between the change in the degree of anisotropy of susceptibility ()P') and the bulk strain ratio (In X/Z) for both the pure and simple shear experiments.

A copy of the thesis can be downloaded here