NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION ON THERMOMECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EARTH'S CRUST WITH MAGMA CHAMBERS

Date

2024-11-27

Author

Erdoğan, Selin

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In this study, relationship between cooling and stress distribution around the magma chambers formed by silicate melts settled throughout the Earth's crust is researched. Subsurface magma chambers through crustal domain are modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics with 2D and 3D modeling approaches. The magma chambers, 30x5x5, 20x3x3, and 5x1x1 km in size, are examined in 12 distinct cases to explore different thermomechanical behavior applying distinct settlement depths and magma internal temperatures through depth of 1-30 km. Three initial internal magma temperature values are defined as 700°C, 800°C and 900°C. Earth's surface temperature is assumed constant at 15°C, with a thermal gradient of 25°C/km towards depth. Temperature dependent mechanical properties are assigned to magma and surrounding host rock. Results from both models are analyzed to better understand how changes in size, temperature, and location of magma chambers influence the thermo-mechanical behavior of upper crustal setting subjected to active deformation, such as intracontinental rifts and slab subduction zones. 2D and 3D model outputs are compared to determine the most suitable modeling methodology for similar geological scenarios in terms of modeling costs and data consistency. It is highlighted that the stress distribution in the 3D model is more homogenous and up to 20% lower compared to the 2D model in average; primarily due to the wider stress dispersion and more efficient heat transfer. The results suggest that the 3D models, outputting shorter solidification periods and lower stress concentrations, represent the stress patterns more reliably.

Subject Keywords

Magma Chambers, Thermomechanical Effect, Stress Fields, Magma Solidification, Crust Deformation

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/112910

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis