See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Advances in Discontinuum Numerical Modeling in the Study of Earth Structure and Deformation
Abstract:
In this study, I use the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to simulate the growth and evolution of allochthonous salt sheets in both 2-D and 3-D. My work attempts to answer the question of how different salt sheet geometries (e.g., length, thickness, preexisting basement structure) and loading conditions (e.g., sedimentation rates, slope angle, and horizontal loading) change the emergent salt structures and their accompanying roof deformation styles. Initial results show that low sedimentation rates, high basal slopes, and thicker salt sheets create weak roof configurations that result in greater downslope extension of both the salt and sediment layers. Extension is accommodated by listric roho type faults. Counterregional faults did not develop into counterregional salt systems due to the weak nature of the sediment particle configuration. Contact bonding has been introduced to strengthen the sediment layers and allow salt particles to exploit weakened fault zones for the formation of salt walls, diapirs, and canopies.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Advances in Discontinuum Numerical Modeling in the Study of Earth Structure and Deformation