Transversely isotropic stiffness parameters and their measurement in Colorado shale

Drained stress path triaxial tests and confined torsion tests were conducted on Colorado shale core samples to investigate transversely isotropic stiffness parameters at small strain deformation. Nonlinear plastic behaviour occurred along the primary loading path even at strains less than 0.01%. Nonlinear, hysteric behaviour was only observed during the loading-unloading path. However, the shale material displayed transverse isotropy in deformation, and very small or nondetectable Poisson's ratios in vertical and horizontal directions. This special response alludes to the postulate that the Colorado shale could be approximated by a transversely isotropic elasticity model at small strain levels with negligible yielding.Key words: anisotropy, elasticity, stiffness, triaxial test, torsion test, shale.