Analogue benchmarks of shortening and extension experiments

• We report a direct comparison of scaled analogue experiments to test thereproducibility of model results among ten different experimental modelling laboratories.We present results for two experiments: a brittle thrust wedge experiment and a brittleviscousextension experiment. The experimental set-up, the model construction technique,the viscous material and the base and wall properties were prescribed. However, each laboratoryused its own frictional analogue material and experimental apparatus. Comparisonof results for the shortening experiment highlights large differences in model evolutionthat may have resulted from (1) differences in boundary conditions (indenter or basal-pullmodels), (2) differences in model widths, (3) location of observation (for example, sidewallversus centre of model), (4) material properties, (5) base and sidewall frictional properties,and (6) differences in set-up technique of individual experimenters. Six laboratories carriedout the shortening experiment with a mobile wall. The overall evolution of their models isbroadly similar, with the development of a thrust wedge characterized by forward thrustpropagation and by back thrusting. However, significant variations are observed inspacing between thrusts, their dip angles, number of forward thrusts and back thrusts, andsurface slopes. The structural evolution of the brittle-viscous extension experiments issimilar to a high degree. Faulting initiates in the brittle layers above the viscous layer in close vicinity to the basal velocity discontinuity. Measurements of fault dip angles and faultspacing vary among laboratories. Comparison of experimental results indicates an encouragingoverall agreement in model evolution, but also highlights important variations in thegeometry and evolution of the resulting structures that may be induced by differences inmodelling materials, model dimensions, experimental set-ups and observation location

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Mineralogi, petrologi och tektonik

Mineral Chemistry, Petrology and Tectonics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)