Stresses and strains in the interior of a non-evolutive planet

Abstract

The case of a hypothetical planet with. an initial structure and density distribution similar to the present earth, is analyzed. Bullen´s and Gutemberg´s values for the densities and velocities in the interior are assumed, then gravity forcé is “turned on”. Values for the radial and tangenital stresses and strains are calculated followin derivations by Lamé and Love. The radial strains are contractional in the interior and extensional in an outer shell of 800 km thickness. The deviatoric stress is of the order of 170,000 atmospheres near the sudace and 600,000 atmospheres near the core boundary. The pressure at the center of the planet, assuming a liquid core, would be about 14 million atmospheres. The iufluence of the assumed method or formation or the earth on the stress-straiu distribution is discussed.