Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / Paper 1 / Section A / A1

For hydrostatic volume strain from Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio in isotropic linear elasticity, the bulk modulus is $K=E/[3(1-2\nu )]=5.56\mathrm{GPa}$. Hydrostatic compression therefore givesHere $p=101325\mathrm{Pa}$ is the pressure increase, and the negative sign denotes contraction. Equivalently each normal strain is $-(1-2\nu )p/E$ and the three strains add. This is the small-strain isotropic model; concrete's microstructure is represented only through the supplied elastic constants.