Bulk modulus

The bulk modulus (${\displaystyle K}$ or ${\displaystyle B}$) of a substance is a measure of how resistant to compression that substance is. It is defined as the ratio of the infinitesimal pressure increase to the resulting relative decrease of the volume.[1] Other moduli describe the material's response (strain) to other kinds of stress: the shear modulus describes the response to shear, and Young's modulus describes the response to linear stress. For a fluid, only the bulk modulus is meaningful. For a complex anisotropic solid such as wood or paper, these three moduli do not contain enough information to describe its behaviour, and one must use the full generalized Hooke's law.

Illustration of uniform compression

Definition

The bulk modulus ${\displaystyle K>0}$ can be formally defined by the equation

${\displaystyle K=-V{\frac {dP}{dV}}}$

where ${\displaystyle P}$ is pressure, ${\displaystyle V}$ is the initial volume of the substance, and ${\displaystyle dP/dV}$ denotes the derivative of pressure with respect to volume. Considering unit mass,

${\displaystyle K=\rho {\frac {dP}{d\rho }}}$

where ρ is initial density and dP/dρ denotes the derivative of pressure with respect to density (i.e. pressure rate of change with volume). The inverse of the bulk modulus gives a substance's compressibility.

Thermodynamic relation

Strictly speaking, the bulk modulus is a thermodynamic quantity, and in order to specify a bulk modulus it is necessary to specify how the pressure varies during compression: constant-temperature (isothermal ${\displaystyle K_{T}}$), constant-entropy (isentropic ${\displaystyle K_{S}}$), and other variations are possible. Such distinctions are especially relevant for gases.

For an ideal gas, the isentropic process has:

${\displaystyle PV^{\gamma }=const.\,\Rightarrow P\propto \left({\frac {1}{V}}\right)^{\gamma }\propto \rho ^{\gamma },}$

therefore isentropic bulk modulus ${\displaystyle K_{S}}$ is given by:

${\displaystyle K_{S}=\gamma P.}$

Similarly, the isothermal process of an ideal gas has:

${\displaystyle PV=const.\,\Rightarrow P\propto {\frac {1}{V}}\propto \rho ,}$

therefore isothermal bulk modulus ${\displaystyle K_{T}}$ is given by

${\displaystyle K_{T}=P}$

where γ is the heat capacity ratio and p is the pressure.

When the gas is not ideal, these equations give only an approximation of the bulk modulus. In a fluid, the bulk modulus K and the density ρ determine the speed of sound c (pressure waves), according to the Newton-Laplace formula

${\displaystyle c={\sqrt {\frac {K}{\rho }}}.}$

In solids, ${\displaystyle K_{S}}$ and ${\displaystyle K_{T}}$ have very similar values. Solids can also sustain transverse waves: for these materials one additional elastic modulus, for example the shear modulus, is needed to determine wave speeds.

Measurement

It is possible to measure the bulk modulus using powder diffraction under applied pressure. It is a property of a fluid which shows its ability to change its volume under its pressure.

Selected values

Approximate bulk modulus (K) for common materials

Material	Bulk modulus in GPa	Bulk modulus in psi
Rubber [2]	1.5 to 2	0.22×10^6 to 0.29×10^6
Sodium chloride	24.42	3.542×10^6
Glass (see also diagram below table)	35 to 55	5.8×10^6
Steel	160	23.2×10^6
Diamond (at 4K) [3]	443	64×10^6
Granite	50	7.3×10^6
Shale	10	1.5×10^6
Limestone	65	9.4×10^6
Chalk	9	1.3×10^6
Sandstone	0.7	0.1×10^6

Influences of selected glass component additions on the bulk modulus of a specific base glass.[4]

A material with a bulk modulus of 35 GPa loses one percent of its volume when subjected to an external pressure of 0.35 GPa (~3500 bar).

Approximate bulk modulus (K) for other substances

Water	2.2 GPa (value increases at higher pressures)
Methanol	823 MPa (at 20 °C and 1 Atm)
Air	142 kPa (adiabatic bulk modulus [or isentropic bulk modulus])
Air	101 kPa (isothermal bulk modulus)
Solid helium	50 MPa (approximate)

Microscopic origin

Interatomic potential and linear elasticity

Interatomic potential and force

Since linear elasticity is a direct result of interatomic interaction, it is related to the extension/compression of bonds. It can then be derived from the interatomic potential for crystalline materials.[5] First, let us examine the potential energy of two interacting atoms. Starting from very far points, they will feel an attraction towards each other. As they approach each other, their potential energy will decrease. On the other hand, when two atoms are very close to each other, their total energy will be very high due to repulsive interaction. Together, these potentials guarantee an interatomic distance that achieves a minimal energy state. This occurs at some distance a₀, where the total force is zero:

${\displaystyle F=-{\partial U \over \partial r}=0}$

Where U is interatomic potential and r is the interatomic distance. This means the atoms are in equilibrium.

To extend the two atoms approach into solid, consider a simple model, say, a 1-D array of one element with interatomic distance of a, and the equilibrium distance is a₀. Its potential energy-interatomic distance relationship has similar form as the two atoms case, which reaches minimal at a₀, The Taylor expansion for this is:

${\displaystyle u(a)=u(a_{0})+\left({\partial u \over \partial r}\right)_{r=a_{0}}(a-a_{0})+{1 \over 2}\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)_{r=a_{0}}(a-a_{0})^{2}+O\left((a-a_{0})^{3}\right)}$

At equilibrium, the first derivative is 0, so the dominate term is the quadratic one. When displacement is small, the higher order terms should be omitted. The expression becomes:

${\displaystyle u(a)=u(a_{0})+{1 \over 2}\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)_{r=a_{0}}(a-a_{0})^{2}}$

${\displaystyle F(a)=-{\partial u \over \partial r}=\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)_{r=a_{0}}(a-a_{0})}$

Which is clearly linear elasticity.

Note that the derivation is done considering two neighboring atoms, so the Hook's coefficient is:

${\displaystyle K=a_{0}*{dF \over dr}=a_{0}\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)_{r=a_{0}}}$

This form can be easily extended to 3-D case, with volume per atom(Ω) in place of interatomic distance.

${\displaystyle K=\Omega _{0}\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial \Omega ^{2}}u\right)_{\Omega =\Omega _{0}}}$

Relationship with atomic radius

As derived above, the bulk modulus is directly related the interatomic potential and volume per atoms. We can further evaluate the interatomic potential to connect K with other properties. Usually, the interatomic potential can be expressed as a function of distance that has two terms, one term for attraction and another term for repulsion.

${\displaystyle u=-Ar^{-n}+Br^{-m}}$

Where A > 0 represents the attraction term and B > 0 represents repulsion. n and m are usually integral, and m is usually larger than n, which represents short range nature of repulsion. At equilibrium position, u is at its minimal, so first order derivative is 0.

${\displaystyle \left({\partial u \over \partial r}\right)_{r_{0}}=Anr^{-n-1}+-Bmr^{-m-1}=0}$

${\displaystyle {B \over A}={n \over m}r_{0}^{m-n}}$

${\displaystyle u=-Ar^{-n}\left(1-{B \over A}r^{n-m}\right)=-Ar^{-n}\left(1-{n \over m}r_{0}^{m-n}r^{n-m}\right)}$

when r is close to, recall that the n (usually 1 to 6) is smaller than m (usually 9 to 12), ignore the second term, evaluate the second derivative

${\displaystyle \left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)_{r=a_{0}}=-An(n+1)r_{0}^{-n-2}}$

Recall the relationship between r and Ω

${\displaystyle \Omega ={4\pi \over 3}r^{3}}$

${\displaystyle \left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial \Omega ^{2}}u\right)=\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)\left({\partial r \over \partial \Omega }\right)^{2}=\left({\partial ^{2} \over \partial r^{2}}u\right)\Omega ^{-{\frac {4}{3}}}}$

${\displaystyle K=\Omega _{0}\left({\partial ^{2}u \over \partial r^{2}}\right)_{\Omega =\Omega _{0}}\propto r_{0}^{-n-3}}$

In many cases, such as in metal or ionic material, the attraction force is electrostatic, so n = 1, we have

${\displaystyle K\propto r_{0}^{-4}}$

This applies to atoms with similar bonding nature. This relationship is verified within alkali metals and many ionic compounds.[6]

References

1. "Bulk Elastic Properties". hyperphysics. Georgia State University.
2. "Silicone Rubber". AZO materials.
3. Page 52 of "Introduction to Solid State Physics, 8th edition" by Charles Kittel, 2005, ISBN 0-471-41526-X
4. Fluegel, Alexander. "Bulk modulus calculation of glasses". glassproperties.com.
5. H., Courtney, Thomas (2013). Mechanical Behavior of Materials (2nd ed. Reimp ed.). New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India). ISBN 978-1259027512. OCLC 929663641.
6. Gilman, J.J. (1969). Micromechanics of Flow in Solids. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 29.

Further reading

• De Jong, Maarten; Chen, Wei (2015). "Charting the complete elastic properties of inorganic crystalline compounds". Scientific Data. 2: 150009. Bibcode:2013NatSD...2E0009D. doi:10.1038/sdata.2015.9. PMC 4432655. PMID 25984348.

Conversion formulae
Homogeneous isotropic linear elastic materials have their elastic properties uniquely determined by any two moduli among these; thus, given any two, any other of the elastic moduli can be calculated according to these formulas.
	${\displaystyle K=\,}$	${\displaystyle E=\,}$	${\displaystyle \lambda =\,}$	${\displaystyle G=\,}$	${\displaystyle \nu =\,}$	${\displaystyle M=\,}$	Notes
${\displaystyle (K,\,E)}$			${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K(3K-E)}{9K-E}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3KE}{9K-E}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K-E}{6K}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K(3K+E)}{9K-E}}}$
${\displaystyle (K,\,\lambda )}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {9K(K-\lambda )}{3K-\lambda }}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3(K-\lambda )}{2}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda }{3K-\lambda }}}$	${\displaystyle 3K-2\lambda \,}$
${\displaystyle (K,\,G)}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {9KG}{3K+G}}}$	${\displaystyle K-{\tfrac {2G}{3}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K-2G}{2(3K+G)}}}$	${\displaystyle K+{\tfrac {4G}{3}}}$
${\displaystyle (K,\,\nu )}$		${\displaystyle 3K(1-2\nu )\,}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K\nu }{1+\nu }}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K(1-2\nu )}{2(1+\nu )}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K(1-\nu )}{1+\nu }}}$
${\displaystyle (K,\,M)}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {9K(M-K)}{3K+M}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K-M}{2}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3(M-K)}{4}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3K-M}{3K+M}}}$
${\displaystyle (E,\,\lambda )}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E+3\lambda +R}{6}}}$			${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E-3\lambda +R}{4}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {2\lambda }{E+\lambda +R}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E-\lambda +R}{2}}}$	${\displaystyle R={\sqrt {E^{2}+9\lambda ^{2}+2E\lambda }}}$
${\displaystyle (E,\,G)}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {EG}{3(3G-E)}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {G(E-2G)}{3G-E}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E}{2G}}-1}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {G(4G-E)}{3G-E}}}$
${\displaystyle (E,\,\nu )}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E}{3(1-2\nu )}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E\nu }{(1+\nu )(1-2\nu )}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E}{2(1+\nu )}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E(1-\nu )}{(1+\nu )(1-2\nu )}}}$
${\displaystyle (E,\,M)}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3M-E+S}{6}}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M-E+S}{4}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {3M+E-S}{8}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {E-M+S}{4M}}}$		${\displaystyle S=\pm {\sqrt {E^{2}+9M^{2}-10EM}}}$ There are two valid solutions. The plus sign leads to ${\displaystyle \nu \geq 0}$. The minus sign leads to ${\displaystyle \nu \leq 0}$.
${\displaystyle (\lambda ,\,G)}$	${\displaystyle \lambda +{\tfrac {2G}{3}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {G(3\lambda +2G)}{\lambda +G}}}$			${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda }{2(\lambda +G)}}}$	${\displaystyle \lambda +2G\,}$
${\displaystyle (\lambda ,\,\nu )}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda (1+\nu )}{3\nu }}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda (1+\nu )(1-2\nu )}{\nu }}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda (1-2\nu )}{2\nu }}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda (1-\nu )}{\nu }}}$	Cannot be used when ${\displaystyle \nu =0\Leftrightarrow \lambda =0}$
${\displaystyle (\lambda ,\,M)}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M+2\lambda }{3}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {(M-\lambda )(M+2\lambda )}{M+\lambda }}}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M-\lambda }{2}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {\lambda }{M+\lambda }}}$
${\displaystyle (G,\,\nu )}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {2G(1+\nu )}{3(1-2\nu )}}}$	${\displaystyle 2G(1+\nu )\,}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {2G\nu }{1-2\nu }}}$			${\displaystyle {\tfrac {2G(1-\nu )}{1-2\nu }}}$
${\displaystyle (G,\,M)}$	${\displaystyle M-{\tfrac {4G}{3}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {G(3M-4G)}{M-G}}}$	${\displaystyle M-2G\,}$		${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M-2G}{2M-2G}}}$
${\displaystyle (\nu ,\,M)}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M(1+\nu )}{3(1-\nu )}}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M(1+\nu )(1-2\nu )}{1-\nu }}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M\nu }{1-\nu }}}$	${\displaystyle {\tfrac {M(1-2\nu )}{2(1-\nu )}}}$