The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting [Paperback]

Christopher H. Scholz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0521407605 | ISBN-13: 978-0521407601

The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting presents an interdisciplinary view of earthquakes and faulting in which the main observations from seismology, geology, and geodesy are reviewed and interpreted in terms of rock mechanics principles. The book introduces the mechanics of brittle fracture and rock friction, and presents observations of natural phenomena. It goes on to investigate the nature of the tectonic loading system, explore the role of earthquakes in a wide variety of tectonic settings, and review research in the important topics of earthquake prediction and hazards research. The author's aim is to develop an overall understanding and appreciation of the mechanics of faulting processes rather than on rehearsing the methods used to study the subject. Mathematical methods are kept simple and descriptive aspects of the subject are emphasized. Each topic is illustrated with the key observational data taken from many diverse tectonic settings. A comprehensive bibliography of over 1,200 items is included for those interested in pursuing topics to a greater depth. The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting is suitable as a textbook for beginning graduate students in seismology, earthquake engineering, structural geology and rock mechanics courses. It should also prove to be a valuable reference work for researchers in these areas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

."..an interdisciplinary guide is useful. 'The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting' provides such a guide, together with a summary of unifying mechanical principles." Geological Magazine

Book Description

Our understanding of earthquakes and faulting processes has developed significantly since publication of the successful first edition of this book in 1990. This revised edition has therefore been thoroughly up-dated whilst maintaining and developing the major themes of the first edition. Graduate students and research scientists in the fields of seismology, physics, geology, geodesy and rock mechanics will benefit greatly from this book, which provides a unifying framework within which a wide range of faulting phenomena can be interpreted. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 461 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 25, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521407605
• ISBN-13: 978-0521407601
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,442,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faultless book on faults?, September 1, 2003

By 

kendall lopere (H-Town, Tx, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Christopher Scholz has written a welcome update to the classic 1990 edition of his book, and if you thought that Crustal Deformation was a field where nothing exciting happens, think again! Substantial chunks of the book have been re-written and re-organized to bring the text bang up-to-date with the cutting edge of tectonics and rock mechanics research.
The beauty of this book is that Scholz, along with his students and research associates, basically has been the cutting edge of research in this field for the past 30 years. The book therefore reads as a guide to the evolution of ideas and a personal memoir of scientific exploration, while allowing the reader to follow the same thought processes, and more fully understand what we currently think regarding these subjects.
The text is a monograph, quite different from the usual condescending tone found in textbooks, and can be understood and appreciated by readers of widely differing abilities, from interested laymen to fellow researchers. Thorough explanations are given for each topic, with examples taken from actual scientific papers, putting the reader in touch with the original papers, a glaring omission in many other textbooks. The language is never more complicated than it needs to be, and Scholz's straight-forward explanations and no-nonsense style make comprehension almost too easy, leaving the reader a real feeling that one has learned something at the end, which will come as a breath of fresh air to any student that has suffered through a horribly dull and irrelevent lecture, only to remain scratching their head at the end.
The book is a tribute to the intellect and longeivity of the man's career, blessed as he is with a happy knack for being proven "right" by the passing of time, and continuing accumulation of research results. A classic text, and again, a must-read for anyone with a desire to know more about the planet we live on.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible of Faulting, July 23, 2006

By 

John E. Vidale "conventional Earth scientist" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Prof. Scholz of Columbia summarizes the science of rock mechanics.

This book is the easiest way to gain a first foothold in the physics of how faults behave. In fact, as far as I know, it may be the only way, short of attempting a PhD in geophysics. I've read it (and hope I remember at least a fraction of its contents), used it in class, and even given away a copy or two to students.

If only more scientists could write as well. As a side light, Chris has also written a book for the general reader on the excitement of discovering the tectonics of Africa, Fieldwork: A Geologist's Memoir of the Kalahari, which I highly recommend.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars no complaints, September 19, 2011

By 

Christine M. McCarthy (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

It came on the last possible day of the given range, but it was in very nice condition. No complaints.