|
|
|
| Generation of electromotive force in igneous rocks subjected to non-uniform loading |
| Akihiro Takeuchi1, Omer Aydan2, Keizo Sayanagi1, Toshiyasu Nagao1 |
1 Earthquake Prediction Research Center, Institute of Oceanic Research and Development, Tokai University, Shizuoka 424-8610, Japan
2 Department of Marine Civil Engineering, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Shizuoka 424-8610, Japan |
|
|
|
|
Abstract When one end of an air-dry igneous rock block was uniaxially loaded in laboratory, there appeared an electromotive force that made electric currents flow from the stressed volume to the unstressed volume. Quartz-free rocks such as gabbro also generated this force, stronger than quartz-bearing rocks such as granite. This indicates that the piezoelectric effect of quartz and the electrokinetic effect of pore water do not make a large contribution toward generating the electromotive force. We focus on peroxy bond that is one of the abundant lattice defects in igneous rock-forming minerals. When mechanical loading deforms the lattice structure around this defect and breaks its bond, its energy levels change and act like an accepter. As an electron is trapped at this defect from a neighbor O2- site, a positive hole is activated there. They attempt to diffuse toward the unstressed volume through the valence band and are simultaneously affected by the attractive electric force with the electrons trapped in peroxy bonds. This leads to a polarization in the stressed volume and the generation of electromotive force between the stressed and unstressed volumes. Similar electromotive force may be generated in the Earth’s crust where inhomogeneous stress/strain is changing.
|
|
Received: 27 April 2011
Published: 10 December 2011
|
| Fund:“Observation and Research Program for Prediction of Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions” of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, “FY2010 Research Incentive Assistance Program” of Educational System General Research Organization, Tokai University, and “Individual Research Projects” of Institute of Oceanic Development of Science and Technology, Tokai University |
|
Corresponding Authors:
Akihiro Takeuchi
E-mail: atakeuchi@sems-tokaiuniv.jp
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
