Laboratory Measurements of Elastic Constants of Carbonate Rocks from Southwestern Ohio

Abstract

Improved laboratory techniques were developed for the measurement of seismic velocities, elastic constants, and loss factors in rock cores. The method used was the forced and free vibration of cylindrical cores in longitudinal, torsional, and flexural vibration modes. The results from Ohio sedimentary rock cores selected from the Brassficld limestone, the Cedarville dolomite, and the Columbus limestone were compared to limited field measurements using seismic techniques. This comparison demonstrates the advantages of the laboratory techniques, which can be used to study the effects of saturation, compostion, anisotropy, and grain size on elastic constants.