SULEC geodynamic finite-element code
We have developed a 2-D/3-D arbitrary lagrangian-eulerian (ALE) finite-element code, SULEC, based on known techniques from literature. SULEC is successful in tackling many of the problems faced by numerical models of lithosphere and mantle processes, such as the combination of viscous, elastic, and plastic rheologies, the presence of a free surface, the contrast in viscosity between lithosphere and the underlying asthenosphere, and the occurrence of large deformations including viscous flow and offset on shear zones. The aim of our presentation is (1) to describe SULEC, and (2) to present a set of analytical and numerical benchmarks that we use to continuously test our code.
SULEC solves the incompressible momentum equation coupled with the energy equation. It uses a structured mesh that is built of quadrilateral or brick elements that can vary in size in all dimensions, allowing to achieve high resolutions where required. The elements are either linear in velocity with constant pressure, or quadratic in velocity with linear pressure. An accurate pressure field is obtained through an iterative penalty (Uzawa) formulation. Material properties are carried on tracer particles that are advected through the Eulerian mesh. Shear elasticity is implemented following the approach of Moresi et al. [J. Comp. Phys. 184, 2003], brittle materials deform following a Drucker-Prager criterion, and viscous flow is by temperature- and pressure-dependent power-law creep.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21420/8Z3S-ZZ03?x=y
Cite model as:
GNS Science. (2012). SULEC geodynamic finite-element code. GNS Science. https://doi.org/10.21420/8Z3S-ZZ03?x=y
Simple
- Date (Creation)
- 2012-04-01
- Purpose
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An innovative and useful 3D numerical code for modelling tectonic deformation
- Status
- On going
- Point of contact
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role GNS Science
Point of contact
- Maintenance and update frequency
- Continual
- Keywords
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tectonics
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geodynamics
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finite element
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3D numerical model
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New Zealand
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- Classification
- Restricted
- Use constraints
- License
- Language
- English
- Topic category
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- Geoscientific information
- Begin date
- 2006-08-01
- Distribution format
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Name Version source code (fortran 95)
6
OnLine resource
- Hierarchy level
- Model
- Dataset
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Fortran code
- Statement
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Smith and Griffiths book on finite-element method
Metadata
- File identifier
- 398f6035-fcc2-457b-b092-a7bb0f41a103 XML
- Metadata language
- English
- Character set
- UTF8
- Hierarchy level
- Model
- Hierarchy level name
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Non geographic dataset
- Date stamp
- 2024-06-25T23:56:34.161889Z
- Metadata standard name
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ISO 19115:2003/19139
- Metadata standard version
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1.0
- Metadata author
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role GNS Science
Point of contact