Mechanical Spectroscopy on Volcanic Glasses

Abstract

Mechanical relaxation behaviour of various natural volcanic glasses have been investigated in the temperature range RT-1200K using special low frequency flexure (f~0.63Hz) pendulum experiments. The rheological properties complex Young's modulus M* and internal friction 1/Q have been studied from a pure elastic solid at room temperature to pure viscous melt at log(eta[Pas])=8. Several relaxation processes are assumed to act: the primary alpha-relaxation (viscoelastic process, E_a=(344...554)kJ/mol) above the glass transition temperature T_g=(935...1105)K and secondary anelastic beta', beta and gamma-relaxation processes below T_g. With a simple fractional Maxwell model with asymmetrical relaxation time distribution, phenomenological the mechanical relaxation behaviour, is described. This establish a basis of realistic concepts for modelling of volcanic or magmatic processes.