Colloquium

Scheduled Talk - February 20, 2012 - [ 3:00PM in DH 1064 ]

Julia Morgan
Department of Earth Science
Rice University

"Particle-Based Modeling for Geodynamics"

Particle-based numerical simulations (e.g., using the discrete element method, DEM) can offer outstanding insights into material deformation and emergent behavior, with profound applications to shallow crustal deformation in the Earth. Applications of geologic interest include both large- and small-scale, from mountain building and basin formation (of great interest for oil and gas exploration), to slope failure and landsliding, as well as fault initiation and instability (for example, earthquakes). One of the distinct advantages of particle-based modeling is that material constitutive behavior is not prescribed a-priori, but rather is a result of fundamental particle and interparticle properties and interactions, and thus can evolve as the system evolves. A corresponding challenge, however, is calibrating (or at least representing) the material properties correctly, particularly for complex, heterogeneous geological systems. This presentation will review several 2D and 3D DEM studies of intermediate to high-stress geodynamic processes, and the insights gained by this approach, thereby providing an introduction to the types of problems of interest to geologists and the challenges still to be resolved.