Interplay between two phase flow and rock mechanics: Exploring the rheology of melt-rock mixtures

地球韧性地壳的很大一部分构成了熔岩混合物。这些两相物质在地壳的流变行为中发挥着重要作用，对地震周期和地震灾害具有重要影响。在熔岩混合物中，熔体可以被“挤出”、“流出”或“积聚”在地壳内。该项目的目的是确定每种情景的典型模式，并确定其流变性后果。学生将从应用数学的角度评估两相流，重点是在与地壳和地幔相关的条件下使用数学模型来研究两相流的流变学结果，并将新出现的模式与岩石记录中看到的模式进行比较。学生将建立一个数学框架来建立上述三种情景的流变学响应，特别关注情景参数场和流变学在时间和空间中的动态变化。数值和数学结果将不仅从流变学的角度进行分析，而且还从图案形成的角度进行分析。确定不同模式出现的条件将允许与自然记录中观察到的地质特征进行直接比较。地质数据将从特定的地质环境(如苏格兰、意大利北部)以及现有报告的结构中收集。

A significant portion of the Earth's ductile crust constitutes melt-rock mixtures. These two-phase materials play a major role in the rheological behaviour of the Earth's crust, with important implications for earthquakes cycles and seismic hazards. Within the melt-rock mixtures melt can be "squeezed out", "fluxed through", or "accumulated within" the Earth's crust. The aim of the project is to identify patterns typical for each scenario and establish their rheological consequences. The student will assess two-phase flow from an applied mathematical perspective, focussing on the rheological consequences of two phase flow using mathematical models at conditions relevant to the Earths' crust and mantle and comparing emerging patterns to those seen in the rock record. The student will establish a mathematical framework to establish the rheological response of the three scenarios described above with special focus on the dynamic changes in scenario parameter fields and rheology through time and space. Numerical and mathematical results will be analysed not only in terms of rheology but also in terms of pattern formation. Identification of the conditions for different patterns to arise will allow direct comparison to geological features observed in the natural record. Geological data will be collected from specific geological environments (e.g. Scotland, Northern Italy) as well as from existing reported structures.