The dependence of surface tidal stress on the internal structure of Europa: The possibility of cracking of the icy shell

This study shows dependence of the surface diurnal tidal stress on the internal structure of Europa. Its purpose is to investigate possibility of cracking of the icy shell. The stress is evaluated under the plausible model of the internal structure constrained by the gravity field data. The possible effective stress at the sub-Jovian point decreases with thickening of the shell, while it does not depend on the core radius and the thickness of the H 2 O layer. The range of this value is from 0.095 to 0.161 MPa, which does not exceed the tensile strength of ice. The stress required for the surface cracking would be mainly due to longer period deformations, especially non-synchronous rotation. And/or the actual strength of the ice at the surface would be smaller because of the preexisting cracks than that at a laboratory of the same temperature.