STRAIN

INTRODUCTION

Any deformed rock is the result of a rock having been

strained
the final product is known as the finite strain

The development of the structure is not

instantaneous but is the product of progressive
deformation
the finite strain is the product of increments of infinitesimal
strain
 Progressive deformation of granite and
dykes (Sweden)

Granite with
undeformed
dykes
Gneiss with
deformed dykes

Gneiss with
mafic bands

Banded gneisss
Deformed, low grade metamorphic rocks comprising mafic and felsic
volcanics intruded by mafic sills
Mafic volcanics contain pillow lavas that show rapid change in strain

Next slide
 Increasing strain Progressive
deformation of
pillow basalts near
Nondweni, N KZN

High strain Medium strain Low strain

pillow basalt pillow basalt pillow basalt
 STRAIN IN 2-D
The easiest way of understanding how this progressive
deformation occurs is to first consider strain in 2-D then in 3-D

This is best undertaken by using strain ellipses

Initially unit circles that become ellipses during deformation

Consider a unit circle deformed into an ellipse:

Non-rigid body deformation leads to distortion

This can be achieved by either:

PURE SHEAR
compressed from sides and stretched from ends

SIMPLE SHEAR
"shearing either side of it in opposite directions
 We use strain ellipses because: STRAIN IN 2-D

1) The deformation of a circle into an ellipse is

mathematically rigorous with respect to: Long axis: X,

Length of the long (X) and (1+ e1)2, 1

short (Z) principal axes semi-axis:
- thus the shape of the ellipse
R = X/Z 1+ e1, 1
Orientation of the principal axes Short axis: Z,
- the long (X) and short (Z) axes
(1+ e3)2, 3
are at right angles to each other so
the orientation of only one axis semi-axis:
is required with respect to a
strain direction 1+ e3, 3

Note: Z, e3 and 3 are used here for the short axis Remember: e = l - lo / lo
even though there are only 2 axes to remind you
where lo = radius of unit circle
that strain is really in 3D
 STRAIN IN 2-D

2) Strain ellipses demonstrate that:

Compression and extension may

occur simultaneously in different
directions

Some lines in certain

orientations may be
shortened then extended
 STRAIN IN 2-D
Extension results in boudins
developing in the competent
pegmatite where the host is
amphibolite.
The amphibolite is less
competent than the granitic
gneiss.

Shortening results in folding

of the competent
pegmatite in the host rock
(less competent granitic
gneiss)
 STRAIN IN 2-D
3) Strain ellipses are a visually pleasing method of presenting data

From Ramsay and Huber (1987)

 STRAIN IN 2-D
4) The construction of 3 strain ellipses at right angles to each
other yields a 3-D strain ellipsoid
 STRAIN IN 2-D: PURE SHEAR

Also termed irrotational strain or coaxial strain

There is no rotation of material lines along the

principal axes of the ellipse

Deformation is homogeneous with constant area and

therefore maintains a constant volume in 3-D
 PURE SHEAR
The pure shear strain ellipse can be
subdivided into 3 main zones:

1: Zone of extension
2: Zone of compression followed by
extension
3: Zone of compression

These zones have a symmetrical

arrangement separated by:
Lines of no finite longitudinal strain (fls)
Lines of no infinitesimal longitudinal
strain (ils)
 PURE SHEAR
Lines of no finite longitudinal strain (FLS)

If a unit circle is deformed into an

ellipse, there will be two lines which
intersect the ellipse with the same
diameter as the original circle

As there will be no change in the

length of these lines, they are lines
of no strain in the finite ellipse

On one side of the lines there is a

region where all lines have been
extended

On the other side of the lines, there

is a region where all lines have been
shortened
 PURE SHEAR
LINES OF NO INFINITESIMAL LONGITUDINAL STRAIN (ILS)

During deformation, a circle does not

become an ellipse instantaneously
Multiple increments of an infinitesimal strain
ellipse produce the finite ellipse

The infinitesimal strain ellipse must be

more circular than the finite strain
ellipse
Therefore the lines of no infinitesimal
longitudinal strain have a different
orientation from the lines of no finite
longitudinal strain
With the lines of ILS having a larger angle
from the long axis of the finite ellipse than for
the lines of FLS
 PURE SHEAR
The lines of no infinitesimal longitudinal
strain also separate a region where all
material lines have been extended from a
region where all lines have been
shortened

As progressive deformation takes place,

material lines will move from the region of
compression (3) into the region of
extension (1)

This results in zone 2 where the lines

experience compression followed by
extension

Such features may be observed around a

single fold
 PURE SHEAR
Along the limb of a fold,
the deformed layer has
rotated from the zone of
compression (3) into the
zone of extension (1)
during deformation

In the hinge zone of the

fold, the layer has
remained in the zone of
compression (3)
throughout the
deformation event
 STRAIN IN 2D: SIMPLE SHEAR

Also known as rotational or non-coaxial strain

The principal axes of the strain ellipse rotate during

deformation
Therefore the axes of the infinitesimal strain ellipse
and finite strain ellipse are non-coaxial
- They do not coincide!
 SIMPLE SHEAR
The lines of no finite longitudinal
strain (fls) and no infinitesimal
strain (ils) are, in one case
identical
this is parallel to the direction of shear

There is an asymmetrical
arrangements of zones 1, 2 and 3
When the sense of rotation is
anticlockwise as a result of simple
shear, there is a clockwise
arrangement of the zones 1, 2 and 3
When the sense of rotation is
clockwise as a result of simple shear,
there is an anticlockwise
arrangement of the zones 1, 2 and 3