Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks
This paper reports the use of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to model dinosaur tracks. Satisfactory reproductions of sauropod ichnites were simulated using 3D numerical models of the elasto-plastic behaviour of soils. Though the modelling was done of ichnites in situ at the Miraflores I tracksite (So...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Paleobiology PAS
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app000982014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811282616196792320 |
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| author | Eugenio Sanz Antonio Arcos Carlos Pascual Ignacio Menendez Pidal |
| author_facet | Eugenio Sanz Antonio Arcos Carlos Pascual Ignacio Menendez Pidal |
| author_sort | Eugenio Sanz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reports the use of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to model dinosaur tracks. Satisfactory reproductions of sauropod ichnites were simulated using 3D numerical models of the elasto-plastic behaviour of soils. Though the modelling was done of ichnites in situ at the Miraflores I tracksite (Soria, Spain), the methodology could be applied to other tracksites to improve their ichnological interpretation and better understand how the type and state of the trodden sediment at the moment the track is created is a fundamental determinant of the morphology of the ichnite. The results obtained explain why the initial and commonly adopted hypothesis—that soft sediments become progressively more rigid and resistant at depth—is not appropriate at this tracksite. We explain why it is essential to consider a more rigid superficial layer (caused by desiccation) overlying a softer layer that is extruded to form a displacement rim. Adult sauropods left trackways behind them. These tracks could be filled up with water due to phreatic level was close to the ground surface. The simulation provides us with a means to explain the differences between similar tracks (of different depths; with or without displacement rims) in the various stratigraphic layers of the tracksite and to explain why temporary and variable conditions of humidity lead to these differences in the tracks. The simulations also demonstrate that track depth alone is insufficient to differentiate true tracks from undertracks and that other discrimination criteria need to be taken into account. The scarcity of baby sauropod tracks is explained because they are shallow and easily eroded. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:55:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-22bd73eb081540879b6d35ede796e964 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0567-7920 1732-2421 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T01:55:48Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Paleobiology PAS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |
| spelling | doaj.art-22bd73eb081540879b6d35ede796e9642022-12-22T03:07:46ZengInstitute of Paleobiology PASActa Palaeontologica Polonica0567-79201732-24212016-06-01612387402Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracksEugenio Sanz0Antonio Arcos1Carlos Pascual2Ignacio Menendez Pidal3Escuela de Caminos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Ciudad Universitaria C/ Profesor Aranguren 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela de Caminos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Ciudad Universitaria C/ Profesor Aranguren 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela de Caminos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Ciudad Universitaria C/ Profesor Aranguren 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainEscuela de Caminos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Ciudad Universitaria C/ Profesor Aranguren 3, 28040 Madrid, SpainThis paper reports the use of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to model dinosaur tracks. Satisfactory reproductions of sauropod ichnites were simulated using 3D numerical models of the elasto-plastic behaviour of soils. Though the modelling was done of ichnites in situ at the Miraflores I tracksite (Soria, Spain), the methodology could be applied to other tracksites to improve their ichnological interpretation and better understand how the type and state of the trodden sediment at the moment the track is created is a fundamental determinant of the morphology of the ichnite. The results obtained explain why the initial and commonly adopted hypothesis—that soft sediments become progressively more rigid and resistant at depth—is not appropriate at this tracksite. We explain why it is essential to consider a more rigid superficial layer (caused by desiccation) overlying a softer layer that is extruded to form a displacement rim. Adult sauropods left trackways behind them. These tracks could be filled up with water due to phreatic level was close to the ground surface. The simulation provides us with a means to explain the differences between similar tracks (of different depths; with or without displacement rims) in the various stratigraphic layers of the tracksite and to explain why temporary and variable conditions of humidity lead to these differences in the tracks. The simulations also demonstrate that track depth alone is insufficient to differentiate true tracks from undertracks and that other discrimination criteria need to be taken into account. The scarcity of baby sauropod tracks is explained because they are shallow and easily eroded.http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app000982014.pdfSauropodaichnology3Dmathematical simulationelasto-plastic modelsoil mechanicsSpainMiraflores tracksite |
| spellingShingle | Eugenio Sanz Antonio Arcos Carlos Pascual Ignacio Menendez Pidal Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks Acta Palaeontologica Polonica Sauropoda ichnology 3D mathematical simulation elasto-plastic model soil mechanics Spain Miraflores tracksite |
| title | Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| title_full | Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| title_fullStr | Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| title_short | Three-dimensional elasto-plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| title_sort | three dimensional elasto plastic soil modelling and analysis of sauropod tracks |
| topic | Sauropoda ichnology 3D mathematical simulation elasto-plastic model soil mechanics Spain Miraflores tracksite |
| url | http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app000982014.pdf |
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