Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The State of Stress in the Earth’s Crust: From Local Measurements to the World Stress Map

  • Chapter
Rock Stress and Its Measurement

  • 1096 Accesses

Abstract

The last 30 years have seen a major advance in our knowledge of in situ stresses in rock. A large body of data on the state of stress in the near-surface part of the Earth’s crust (upper 4–5 km of the crust) is now available. Regional stress data from various continents have been collected in separate databases and later compiled into a worldwide database. The first part of this chapter deals with the organization and database of the World Stress Map Project, and the ‘big picture’ of the state of stress in the Earth’s crust. The second part of this chapter deals with the effect of scale on in situ stresses and in situ stress measurements, and the relationship between local stress measurements and the global stress field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams, J. (1989) Crustal stresses in eastern Canada, in Earthquakes at North Atlantic Passive Margins: Neotectonics and Postglacial Rebound, Kluwer Academic, Boston, Mass., pp. 355–370.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. and Bell, J.S. (1991) Crustal stresses in Canada, in The Geology of North America, Decade Map Vol. 1, Neotectonics of North America, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado, pp. 367–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E.M. (1951) The Dynamics of Faulting and Dyke Formation with Applications to Britain, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelier, J. (1984) Tectonic analysis of fault slip data sets. J. Geophys. Res., 89, 5835–5848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arjang, B. (1991) Pre-mining stresses at some hard rock mines in the Canadian shield. Bull. Can. Inst. Mining, 84, 80–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ask, M.V.S., Müller, B. and Stephansson, O. (1996) In situ stress determination from breakout analysis in the Tornquist Fan, Denmark, Terra Nova (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Assumpcao, M. (1992) The regional intraplate stress field in South America. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11889–11903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, C.A., Zoback, M.D. and Burns, K.L. (1988) In-situ stress orientation and magnitude at the Fenton Hill geothermal site, New Mexico, determined from wellbore breakouts. Geophys. Res. Lett., 15, 467–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J.S. and Babcock, E.A. (1986) The stress regime of the western Canadian Basin and implications for hydrocarbon production. Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol., 34, 364–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosworth, W., Strecker, M.R. and Blisniuk, P.M. (1992) Integration of East African paleostress and present-day stress data: implications for continental stress field dynamics. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11851–11865.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bott, M.H.P. and Dean, D.S. (1972) Stress systems at young continental margins. Nature Phys. Sci., 235, 23–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, E.T. and Windsor, C.R. (1990) Near surface in-situ stresses in Australia and their influence on underground construction, in Proc. Tunnelling Conf., Sydney, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, pp. 18–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bungum, H. et al. (1991) Seismicity and seismotectonics of Norway and nearby continental shelf areas. J. Geophys. Res., 96, 2249–2265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, B.J. (1992) Size and stress gradient effects on fracture around cavities. Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 25, 167–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornet, F.H. (1993) Stresses in rocks and rock masses, in Comprehensive Rock Engineering (ed. J.A. Hudson), Pergamon Press, Oxford, Chapter 17, Vol. 3, pp. 297–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet, F.H. and Burlet, D. (1992) Stress field determination in France by hydraulic tests in boreholes. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11829–11849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuisiat, F.D. and Haimson, B.C. (1992) Scale effects in rock mass stress measurements. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 29, 99–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha, A.P. (1990) Scale effects in rock masses, in Proc. 1st Workshop on Scale Effects in Rock Masses, Loen, Norway, Balkema, Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunha, A.P. (1993) Scale effects in rock masses 93, in Proc. 2nd Workshop on Scale Effects in Rock Masses, Lisbon, Balkema, Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enever, J.R. and Chopra, P.N. (1986) Experience with hydraulic fracture stress measurements in granite, in Proc. Int. Symp. on Rock Stress and Rock Stress Measurements, Stockholm, Centek Publ., Luleå, pp. 411–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enever, J.R., Walton, R.J. and Windsor, C.R. (1990) Stress regime in the Sydney basin and its implication for excavation design and construction, in Proc. Tunnelling Conf, Sydney, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, pp. 49–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enever, J.R., Walton, R.J. and Wold, M.B. (1990) Scale effects influencing hydraulic fracture and overcoring stress measurements, in Proc. Int. Workshop on Scale Effects in Rock Masses, Loen, Norway, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 317–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, K.F. (1989) Appalachian stress study, 3, regional scale stress variations and their relation to structure and contemporary tectonics. J. Geophys. Res., 94, 17619–17645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fejerskov, M. et al. (1995) In-situ rock stress pattern on the Norwegian continental shelf and mainland, in Proc. Workshop on Rock Stresses in the North Sea, Trondheim, Norway, NTH and SINTEF Publ., Trondheim, pp. 191–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, Q.L., Xu, Zh.H. and Chen, J.G. (1990) Horizontal principal stress axes in Sichuan Basin deduced from oil-well breakouts. Acta Seismol. Sin., 12, 140–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez de Vallejo, L.I. et al. (1988) The state of stress in Spain and its assessment by empirical methods, in Proc. Int. Symp. Rock Mech. and Power Plant, Madrid, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 165–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gowd, T.N., Srirama Ra, S.V. and Gar, V.K. (1992) Tectonic stress field in the Indian subcontinent. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11879–11888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregersen, S. (1992) Crustal stress regime in Fennoscandia from focal mechanisms. J. Geophys. Res., 98, 11821–11827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guenot, A. (1987) Stress and rupture conditions around oil wellbores, in Proc. 6th Int. Cong. Rock Mech., Montreal, Balkema, Rotterdam, Vol. 1, pp. 109–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson, B.C. (1990a) Stress measurements in the Sioux Falls quartzite and the state of stress in the Midcontinent, in Proc. 31st US Symp. Rock Mech., Golden, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 397–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson, B.C. (1990b) Scale effects in rock stress measurements, in Proc. Int. Workshop on Scale Effects in Rock Masses, Loen, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 89–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson, B.C. (1992) Hydraulic fracturing measurements in New York city reaffirm the uniformity of the stress regime in northeastern United States, in Proc. 33rd US Symp. Rock Mech., Santa Fe, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 59–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimson, B.C. and Zhao, Z. (1991) Effect of borehole size and pressurization rate on hydraulic fracturing breakdown pressure, in Proc. 31st US Symp. Rock Mech., Norman, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 191–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herget, G. (1993) Rock stresses and rock stress monitoring in Canada, in Comprehensive Rock Engineering (ed. J.A. Hudson), Pergamon Press, Oxford, Chapter 19, Vol. 3, pp. 473–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, J.A. and Cooling, C.M. (1988) In situ rock stresses and their measurement in the UK — Part I. The current state of knowledge. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 25, 363–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyett, A.J., Dyke, C.G. and Hudson, J.A (1986) A critical examination of basic concepts associated with the existence and measurement of in-situ stress, in Proc. Int. Symp. on Rock Stress and Rock Stress Measurements, Stockholm, Centek Publ., Luleå, pp. 387–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, R.J. and Barr, M.V. (1986) Regional state of stress in western Europe, in Proc. Int. Symp. Rock Stress and Rock Stress Measurements, Stockholm, Centek Publ., Luleå, pp. 33–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusznir, N.J. and Bott, M.P.H. (1977) Stress concentration in the upper lithosphere caused by underlying visco-elastic creep. Tectonophysics, 43, 247–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, F. (1986) In-situ stress measurements, stress state in the upper crust and their application to rock engineering, in Proc. Int. Symp. on Rock Stress and Rock Stress Measurements, Stockholm, Centek Publ., Luleå, pp. 69–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, F. and Liu, G. (1986) Stress state in the upper crust of the China mainland. J. Phys. Earth, 34, S71–S80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C.H., Yeh, Y.H. and Tsai, Y.B. (1985) Determination of regional principal stress directions in Taiwan from fault plane solutions. Bull. Inst. of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, 5, 67–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C.D. (1995) Brittle rock strength and failure: laboratory and in situ, in Proc. 8th Cong. Int. Soc. Rock Mech. (ISRM), Tokyo, Balkema, Rotterdam, Vol. 3 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C.D., Martino, J.B. and Dzik, E.J. (1994) Comparison of borehole breakouts from laboratory and field tests, in Proc. Eurock’ 94: Int. Symp. on Rock Mech. in Petrol. Eng., Delft, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 183–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mase, G.E. (1970) Continuum Mechanics, Schaum’s Outline Series, McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minster, J.B. and Jordan, T.H. (1978) Present-day plate motions. J. Geophys. Res., 83, 5331–5354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mount, Van S. and Suppe, J. (1992) Present-day stress orientations adjacent to active strike-slip faults: California and Sumatra. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11995–12013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, B. et al. (1992) Regional patterns of tectonic stress in Europe. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11783–11803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myrvang, A.M. (1993) Rock stress and rock stress problems in Norway, in Comprehensive Rock Engineering (ed. J.A. Hudson), Pergamon Press, Oxford, Chapter 18, Vol. 3, pp. 461–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, K. and Uyeda, S. (1980) Stress gradient in arc-back arc regions and plate subduction. J. Geophys. Res., 85, 6419–6428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb, R.A. and Cox, J.W. (1987) Stress directions in eastern North America determined to 4.5 km from borehole elongation measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 92, 4805–4816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sbar, M.L. and Sykes, L.R. (1973) Contemporary compressive stress and seismicity in eastern North America: an example of intra-plate tectonics. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 84, 1861–1882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slunga, R. (1989) Focal mechanisms and crustal stresses in the Baltic shield, in Earthquakes at North Atlantic Passive Margins: Neotectonics and Postglacial Rebound, Kluwer Academic, Boston, pp. 261–276.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, S. et al. (1989) Passive margin earthquakes, stresses and rheology, in Earthquakes at North Atlantic Passive Margins: Neotectonics and Postglacial Rebound, Kluwer Academic, Boston, pp. 231–259.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Stephansson, O. (1988) Ridge push and glacial rebound as rock stress generators in Fennoscandia, in Geological Kinematics and Dynamics: From Molecules to the Mantle. Bull. Geol. Institutions of Univ. Uppsala, 14, 39–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephansson, O. (1993) Rock stress in the Fennoscandian shield, in Comprehensive Rock Engineering (ed. J.A. Hudson), Pergamon Press, Oxford, Chapter 17, Vol. 3, pp. 445–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephansson, O. et al. (1987) Fennoscandian rock stress data base — FRSDB. Technical University of Luleå, Luleå, Sweden, Research Report Lulea 1987:06.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugawara, K. and Obara, Y. (1993) Measuring rock stress, in Comprehensive Rock Engineering (ed. J.A. Hudson), Pergamon Press, Oxford, Chapter 21, Vol. 3, pp. 533–552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Te Kamp, L., Rummel, F. and Zoback, M.D. (1995) Hydrofrac stress profile to 9 km at the German KTB site, in Proc. Workshop on Rock Stresses in the North Sea, Trondheim, Norway, NTH and SINTEF Publ., Trondheim, pp. 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worotnicki, G. and Denham, D. (1976) The state of stress in the upper part of the Earth’s crust in Australia according to measurements in mines and tunnels and from seismic observations, in Proc. ISRM Symp. on Investigation of Stress in Rock, Advances in Stress Measurement, Sydney, The Institution of Engineers, Australia, pp. 71–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Zh. et al. (1992) Tectonic stress field of China inferred from a large number of small earthquakes, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11867–11877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.D. and Healy, J.H. (1992) In-situ stress measurements to 3.5 km depth in the Cajon Pass scientific research borehole: implications for the mechanics of crustal faulting. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 5039–5057.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.D. and Zoback, M.L. (1991) Tectonic stress field of North America and relative plate motions, in The Geology of North America, Decade Map Vol. 1, Neotectonics of North America, Geological Society of America, Boulder, pp. 339–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.D. et al. (1987) New evidence on the state of stress of the San Andreas fault system. Science, 238, 1105–1111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.L. (1989) State of stress and modern deformation of the northern Basin and Range province. J. Geophys. Res., 94, 7105–7128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.L. (1992) First-and second-order patterns of stress in the lithosphere: the World Stress Map Project. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11703–11728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.L. and Zoback, M.D. (1980) State of stress in the conterminous United States. J. Geophys. Res., 85, 6113–6156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M.L. et al. (1989) Global patterns of tectonic stress. Nature, 341, 291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

    Bernard Amadei (Professor)

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ove Stephansson (Professor)

Authors
  1. Bernard Amadei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ove Stephansson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Amadei, B., Stephansson, O. (1997). The State of Stress in the Earth’s Crust: From Local Measurements to the World Stress Map. In: Rock Stress and Its Measurement. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5346-1_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5346-1_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6247-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5346-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation