Effects of cohesion on the structural and mechanical evolution of fold and thrust belts and contractional wedges: Discrete element simulations

Simple item page
dc.citation.firstpage3870en_US
dc.citation.issueNumber5en_US
dc.citation.journalTitleJournal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earthen_US
dc.citation.lastpage3896en_US
dc.citation.volumeNumber120en_US
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, Julia K.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-09T15:30:04Zen_US
dc.date.available2015-07-09T15:30:04Zen_US
dc.date.issued2015en_US
dc.description.abstractParticle-based numerical simulations of cohesive contractional wedges can yield important perspectives on the formation and evolution of fold and thrust belts, offering particular insights into the mechanical evolution of the systems. Results of several discrete element method simulations are presented here, demonstrating the stress and strain evolution of systems with different initial cohesive strengths. Particle assemblages consolidated under gravity, and bonded to impart cohesion, are pushed from the left at a constant velocity above a weak, unbonded décollement surface. Internal thrusting causes horizontal shortening and vertical thickening, forming wedge geometries. The mean wedge taper is similar for all simulations, consistent with their similar residual and basal sliding friction values. In all examples presented here, both forethrusts and back thrusts occur, but forethrusts accommodate most of the shortening. Fault spacing and offset increase with increasing cohesion. Significant tectonic volume strain also occurs, with the greatest incremental volume strain occurring just outboard of the deformation front. This diffuse shortening serves to strengthen the unfaulted domain in front of the deformed wedge, preconditioning these materials for brittle (dilative) failure. The reach of this volumetric strain and extent of décollement slip increase with cohesive strength, defining the extent of stress transmission. Stress paths for elements tracked through the simulations demonstrate systematic variations in shear stress in response to episodes of both décollement slip and thrust fault activity, providing a direct explanation for stress fluctuations during convergence.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMorgan, Julia K.. "Effects of cohesion on the structural and mechanical evolution of fold and thrust belts and contractional wedges: Discrete element simulations." <i>Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth,</i> 120, no. 5 (2015) Wiley: 3870-3896. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011455.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011455en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/80855en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherWileyen_US
dc.rightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.en_US
dc.subject.keywordfold and thrust beltsen_US
dc.subject.keywordfaultsen_US
dc.subject.keywordkinematicsen_US
dc.subject.keywordmechanicsen_US
dc.subject.keywordstressen_US
dc.subject.keyworddiscrete elementen_US
dc.titleEffects of cohesion on the structural and mechanical evolution of fold and thrust belts and contractional wedges: Discrete element simulationsen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
dc.type.publicationpublisher versionen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
jgrb51133.pdf
Size:
10.05 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Faculty Publications
Center for Research Computing
Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Publications