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Modeling Channel Flow and Ductile Extrusion Processes |
Structural Processes Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria Bernhard.Grasemann{at}univie.ac.at
We undertake kinematic modelling to explore the role of volume increase in a slab extruding froman orogenic wedge with constant or decreasing slab width. Using a dilatancy term, we modify the velocity gradient tensor dependent on the stretching-rate factor, kinematic dilatancy and vorticity number. We use this to explore the previously largely ignored role of volume change in kinematic evolution of extrusive flow, considering area change for non-isochoric flow types with no deformation in the intermediate direction. By keeping individual parameters constant for geologically simple scenarios (e.g. finite strain, steady-state flow) we examine the interdependence of the reciprocal parameters (kinematic vorticity and dilatancy number) and note model situations where degrees of freedom are limited. These interdependent parameters thereby provide a set of rules for integrating and modelling real field data. In particular we observe that for extrusion flow with a constant slab (or ‘channel’) width, degrees of freedom in kinematic vorticity and volume change at given finite strains are very restricted. We compare scenarios of low and high strain and low and high volume change on anatexis (related to partial melting of fertile sedimentary rocks and release of water upon crystallization) for different parts of the Himalaya.
