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

An innovative and useful 3D numerical code for modelling tectonic deformation
Status
On going
Point of contact
Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role

GNS Science

s.ellis@gns.cri.nz

Point of contact
Maintenance and update frequency
Continual
Keywords

  • tectonics

  • geodynamics

  • finite element

  • 3D numerical model

  • New Zealand
Classification
Restricted
Use constraints
License
Language
English
Topic category
  • Geoscientific information
Begin date
2006-08-01
Distribution format
Name Version

source code (fortran 95)

6

OnLine resource

No information provided.
Hierarchy level
Model
Dataset

Fortran code
Statement

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

Non geographic dataset
Date stamp
2024-06-25T23:56:34.161889Z
Metadata standard name

ISO 19115:2003/19139
Metadata standard version

1.0
Metadata author
Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role

GNS Science

datamanagement@gns.cri.nz

Point of contact
 
 

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Spatial extent

Keywords


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