Abstract

GUDEHUS, Gerd. ON THE MILD AND WILD MECHANICAL ROUGHNESS OF THE LITHOSPHERE. Obras y Proyectos [online]. 2012, n.11, pp. 48-60. ISSN 0718-2813.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-28132012000100005.

The spatio-temporal mechanical fractality of the lithosphere can be represented by means of Lévy-statistics and fractional calculus. This novel concept is outlined with geometrical and energetic arguments. The fractality originates from the pore system and appears in displacements, stresses and seismicity. It is shown that the roughness may be neglected for the stable range, but not for critical phenomena at the verge of energetic convexity. The outline leads from rough coastlines via sand samples to tectonic chain reactions. Equations and theorems are physically interpreted without algebra and proofs.

Keywords : fractality; lithosphere; roughness.