Effective moduli of rocks predicted by the Kuster–Toksöz and Mori–Tanaka models

Abstract Natural rocks are polymineral composites with complex microstructures. Such strong heterogeneities significantly affect the estimation of effective moduli by some theoretical models. First, we have compared isotropic predicted Kuster–Toksöz (KT) model and Mori–Tanaka (MT) model. The widely used KT only has finite precision in many cases because its assumption that is restricted to first-order scattering approximation. However, MT based on Eshelby tensor mesomechanics advantage predicting rocks, especially when volume fraction embedded inclusions sufficiently large. In addition, can be predict modulus anisotropic but cannot. For a certain kind shale or tight sandstones, which viewed as composites, both models work well. medium containing spherical pores, produce same results, whereas for ellipsoidal pores more accurate than model, validated element simulations. what follows, applicable ranges simplified formulas needle, coin disk shapes, engineering, quantitatively given comparison results according reduced These findings provide comprehensive understanding two calculating beneficial such areas petroleum exploration exploitation, civil geophysics.