Based on energy minimizing approach of bound theory, the influence of the distribution of constituent minerals on rheological property of rocks is discussed. Energy minimizing approach independent of the bound theory is advanced after the constraint condition is improved. The strength of four multiphase rocks is calculated with the new empirical rheological law. Results indicate that the new law has a reasonable physical explanation and fits the experimental data very well.
ZANG Shaoxian, JIANG Yan & WEI Rongqiang Department of Geophysics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
The studies on the structure and physical properties of the Earths interior done by Chinese geophysicists from 1999 to 2002 were reviewed in this paper. It includes several research areas: the structure of the Earths interiors using seismic tomography, anisotropy of the upper mantle in China and its adjacent areas, quality factor Qb for S waves, subduction zone, mantle discontinuities, physical properties of Earths materials and others. The review concerns mainly the contents, the methods and the results of the studies. It can be seen that new progress in the study on the structure and physical properties of the Earths interior has been made in the last 4 years in China. It is shown on three aspects: advancement made on some preexistent areas; pioneering on some new fields and new methods adopted.
