Creep Processes of Continental Slope and Rise Sediments

有相当多的地质和地球物理证据表明，下坡沉积物变形是由于许多海底斜坡上或内部的蠕变而发生的。蠕变速率主要受坡面形态和沉积物类型的控制。本研究计划的目的是了解蠕变和蠕变破裂的机制，并能够定量和定性地预测蠕变变形。为了实现这一目标，提出了四个不同的工作阶段：地质/地球物理分析，实验室测试程序，以确定蠕变相关的材料特性并验证建设性模型，开发有限元程序来分析蠕变变形，以及实验室物理模型来研究简化条件下的变形模式。

There is considerable geological and geophysical evidence that downslope sediment deformations occur due to creep on or within many submarine slopes. The rate of creep is primarily controlled by the configuration of the slope and the sediment type. The objective of this research program is to understand the mechanisms of creep and creep rupture and be able to predict creep deformations both quantitatively as well as qualitatively. To achieve this goal four distinct phases of work are proposed: a geological/geophysical analysis, a laboratory testing program to determine creep related material properties and to verify constructive models, development of a finite element procedure to analyze creep deformations, and laboratory physical models to study deformation patterns under simplifed conditions.