A spectral approach for nonlinear transversely isotropic elastic bodies, for a new class of constitutive equation: Applications to rock mechanics

A constitutive equation is provided for nonlinear transversely isotropic elastic solids, wherein the linearized strain tensor is assumed to be a function of the Cauchy stress tensor; this elastic constitutive equation belongs to a subclass of a more general set of implicit constitutive relations proposed in the recent years. The proposed constitutive equation is valid for both compressible and incompressible bodies and can be simply modified, to exclude the mechanical influence of compressed fibres and to model inextensible fibres. A crude specific constitutive model is proposed to compare with a uniaxial experimental data on Marcellus shale. Some simple boundary value problems are analyzed.