Brillouin scattering was used to investigate the elastic properties of calc
ium alumino-silicate glasses. The Brillouin frequency shifts, along with th
e measurements of density and refractive index, allowed the calculation of
sound velocities and elastic constants. The values of elastic moduli (inclu
ding Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio), deri
ved from experimental data for our glasses, were much larger those for pure
SiO2 glass. These values were compared with those calculated in terms of e
xisting theories. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.