Eugeniusz Majewski – författare

A group of distinguished scientists contributes to the foundations of a new discipline in Earth sciences: earthquake thermodynamics and thermodynamics of formation of the Earth''s interior structures. The predictive powers of thermodynamics are so great that those aspiring to model earthquake and the Earth''s interior will certainly wish to be able to use the theory. Thermodynamics is our only method of understanding and predicting the behavior of many environmental, atmospheric, and geological processes. The need for Earth scientists to develop a functional knowledge of thermodynamic concepts and methodology is therefore urgent. Sources of an entropy increase the dissipative and self-organizing systems driving the evolution and dynamics of the Universe and Earth through irreversible processes. The non-linear interactions lead to the formation of fractal structures. From the structural phase transformations the important interior boundaries emerge.Non-linear interactions between the defects in solids lead the authors to develop the physics of continua with a dense distribution of defects. Disclinations and dislocations interact during a slow evolution as well as during rapid dynamic events, like earthquakes. Splitting the dynamic processes into the 2D fault done and 3D surrounding space brings a new tool for describing the slip nucleation and propagation along the earthquake faults. Seismic efficiency, rupture velocity, and complexity of seismic source zone are considered from different points of view, fracture band earthquake model is developed on the basis of thermodynamics of line defects, like dislocations. Earthquake thermodynamics offers us a microscopic model of earthquake sources.Physics of defects helps the authors decscribe and explain a number of precursory phenomena caused by the buildup of stresses. Anomalies in electric polarization and electromagnetic radiation prior to earthquakes are considered from this point of view. Through the thermodynamic approach, the authors arrive at the fascinating question of posssibility of earthquake prediction. In general, the Earth is considered here as a multicomponent system. Transport phenomena as well as wave propagation and shock waves are considered in this system subjected also to chemical and phase transformations.

When thinking, at the beginning of the new century, on our horizons in seismology, we might return to the old question related to the seismic ro- tion effects and waves. Seismology, with its spectacular achievements instrumentation, data processing, seismic tomography and source process theories – remains practically confined to linear ideal elasticity (isotropic or anisotropic). Numerous renown seismologists have tried to go beyond this horizon. As concerns rotation waves, such attempts were inspired by numerous macroscopic observations pointing out the rotation effects, often observed on the ground surface. However, this problem has been app- ently closed by Mallet in 1862, who gave the following explanation: ro- tions of a body on the surface are due to a sequence of impacts of different seismic phases emerging under different angles. Later on, in 1937, I- mura underlined an influence of different inertia moments of an inflicted body. Thus, the surface rotation effects – rotation of some objects on the ground surface – were explained as being caused by the consecutive inc- nations and recovery of these objects to the vertical, when hit by the in- dent seismic body or surface waves. The final position of the object could become slightly twisted in comparison to its former place; the differences between the inertia tensor moments of the object and/or its attachment (as related to friction resistance of binding) to the ground surface play an - portant role.

When thinking, at the beginning of the new century, on our horizons in seismology, we might return to the old question related to the seismic ro- tion effects and waves. Seismology, with its spectacular achievements instrumentation, data processing, seismic tomography and source process theories – remains practically confined to linear ideal elasticity (isotropic or anisotropic). Numerous renown seismologists have tried to go beyond this horizon. As concerns rotation waves, such attempts were inspired by numerous macroscopic observations pointing out the rotation effects, often observed on the ground surface. However, this problem has been app- ently closed by Mallet in 1862, who gave the following explanation: ro- tions of a body on the surface are due to a sequence of impacts of different seismic phases emerging under different angles. Later on, in 1937, I- mura underlined an influence of different inertia moments of an inflicted body. Thus, the surface rotation effects – rotation of some objects on the ground surface – were explained as being caused by the consecutive inc- nations and recovery of these objects to the vertical, when hit by the in- dent seismic body or surface waves. The final position of the object could become slightly twisted in comparison to its former place; the differences between the inertia tensor moments of the object and/or its attachment (as related to friction resistance of binding) to the ground surface play an - portant role.

Our new monograph has been inspired by the former one, Earthquake Source Asymmetry, Structural Media, and Rotation Effects (R. Teisseyre, M. Takeo, and E. Majewski, eds, Springer 2006). Some problems, c- cerned primarily but not exclusively with the basic theoretical nature, have appeared to us as worthy of further analysis. Thus, in the present mo- graph we intend to develop new theoretical approaches to the theory of continua that go far beyond the traditional seismological applications. We also try to present the links between the experimental data, the observed rotational seismic waves, and their theoretical evaluation and description. In addition, we consider the basic point motions and deformations, and we intend to find the invariant forms to describe such point motions. We believe that there must exist the basic equations for all point motions and deformations, and we derive such relations within a frame of a continuum theory. Thus, in the considered standard asymmetric theory, we include relations not only for the displacement velocities but also for a spin motion and basic point deformations as well. We include here the axial point - formation and twist point deformation represented by the string-string and string-membrane motions. A twist vector is defined here as a vector p- pendicular to the string-string plane and representing its magnitude. It - comes an important counterpart to spin and a key to the presented theory. We show in the forthcoming chapters that the twist motion describes the oscillations of shear axes.

Our new monograph has been inspired by the former one, Earthquake Source Asymmetry, Structural Media, and Rotation Effects (R. Teisseyre, M. Takeo, and E. Majewski, eds, Springer 2006). Some problems, c- cerned primarily but not exclusively with the basic theoretical nature, have appeared to us as worthy of further analysis. Thus, in the present mo- graph we intend to develop new theoretical approaches to the theory of continua that go far beyond the traditional seismological applications. We also try to present the links between the experimental data, the observed rotational seismic waves, and their theoretical evaluation and description. In addition, we consider the basic point motions and deformations, and we intend to find the invariant forms to describe such point motions. We believe that there must exist the basic equations for all point motions and deformations, and we derive such relations within a frame of a continuum theory. Thus, in the considered standard asymmetric theory, we include relations not only for the displacement velocities but also for a spin motion and basic point deformations as well. We include here the axial point - formation and twist point deformation represented by the string-string and string-membrane motions. A twist vector is defined here as a vector p- pendicular to the string-string plane and representing its magnitude. It - comes an important counterpart to spin and a key to the presented theory. We show in the forthcoming chapters that the twist motion describes the oscillations of shear axes.

When thinking, at the beginning of the new century, on our horizons in seismology, we might return to the old question related to the seismic ro- tion effects and waves. Seismology, with its spectacular achievements instrumentation, data processing, seismic tomography and source process theories – remains practically confined to linear ideal elasticity (isotropic or anisotropic). Numerous renown seismologists have tried to go beyond this horizon. As concerns rotation waves, such attempts were inspired by numerous macroscopic observations pointing out the rotation effects, often observed on the ground surface. However, this problem has been app- ently closed by Mallet in 1862, who gave the following explanation: ro- tions of a body on the surface are due to a sequence of impacts of different seismic phases emerging under different angles. Later on, in 1937, I- mura underlined an influence of different inertia moments of an inflicted body. Thus, the surface rotation effects – rotation of some objects on the ground surface – were explained as being caused by the consecutive inc- nations and recovery of these objects to the vertical, when hit by the in- dent seismic body or surface waves. The final position of the object could become slightly twisted in comparison to its former place; the differences between the inertia tensor moments of the object and/or its attachment (as related to friction resistance of binding) to the ground surface play an - portant role.