VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS

We calculate vertically-averaged rheologies for continental lithosphere subject to biaxial states of stress corresponding to extensional, compressional, and strike-slip regimes. We assume that brittle deformation occurs by Byerlee's Law and that ductile deformation occurs by steady-state creep...

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Main Authors: Sonder, L, England, P
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 1986
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author Sonder, L
England, P
author_facet Sonder, L
England, P
author_sort Sonder, L
collection OXFORD
description We calculate vertically-averaged rheologies for continental lithosphere subject to biaxial states of stress corresponding to extensional, compressional, and strike-slip regimes. We assume that brittle deformation occurs by Byerlee's Law and that ductile deformation occurs by steady-state creep mechanisms. Under these conditions, the vertically-averaged rheology may be approximated by a single power law over the range of strain rates from 10-13 to 10-17 s-1. This is true not only when either brittle or ductile behavior dominates the strength of the lithospere, but also when the contributions of brittle and ductile behavior are comparable. The value of the power law exponent, n, and the strength of the lithosphere depend on: the depth and stress difference at the brittle-ductile transition, the temperature at the Moho, and the geothermal gradient. In the range of vertically-integrated stress between 1012 and 1013 N m-1 n reaches a minimum of between 5 and 10; under other circumstances n increases rapidly as brittle behavior dominates over ductile behavior. The strength of the lithosphere depends most strongly on the thermal state of the upper mantle but also is influenced by the stress supported in brittle portions of the lithosphere. © 1986.
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spelling oxford-uuid:43f265de-927b-42bc-b717-18976005dc342022-03-26T14:58:37ZVERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERSJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:43f265de-927b-42bc-b717-18976005dc34EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford1986Sonder, LEngland, PWe calculate vertically-averaged rheologies for continental lithosphere subject to biaxial states of stress corresponding to extensional, compressional, and strike-slip regimes. We assume that brittle deformation occurs by Byerlee's Law and that ductile deformation occurs by steady-state creep mechanisms. Under these conditions, the vertically-averaged rheology may be approximated by a single power law over the range of strain rates from 10-13 to 10-17 s-1. This is true not only when either brittle or ductile behavior dominates the strength of the lithospere, but also when the contributions of brittle and ductile behavior are comparable. The value of the power law exponent, n, and the strength of the lithosphere depend on: the depth and stress difference at the brittle-ductile transition, the temperature at the Moho, and the geothermal gradient. In the range of vertically-integrated stress between 1012 and 1013 N m-1 n reaches a minimum of between 5 and 10; under other circumstances n increases rapidly as brittle behavior dominates over ductile behavior. The strength of the lithosphere depends most strongly on the thermal state of the upper mantle but also is influenced by the stress supported in brittle portions of the lithosphere. © 1986.
spellingShingle Sonder, L
England, P
VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title_full VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title_fullStr VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title_full_unstemmed VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title_short VERTICAL AVERAGES OF RHEOLOGY OF THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE - RELATION TO THIN SHEET PARAMETERS
title_sort vertical averages of rheology of the continental lithosphere relation to thin sheet parameters
work_keys_str_mv AT sonderl verticalaveragesofrheologyofthecontinentallithosphererelationtothinsheetparameters
AT englandp verticalaveragesofrheologyofthecontinentallithosphererelationtothinsheetparameters