Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges

Guido Schreurs; Susanne J.H. Buiter; Jennifer Boutelier; Caroline Burberry; Jean Paul Callot; Cristian Cavozzi; Mariano Cerca; Jian Hong Chen; Ernesto Cristallini; Alexander R. Cruden; Leonardo Cruz; Jean Marc Daniel; Gabriela Da Poian; Victor H. Garcia; Caroline J.S. Gomes; Céline Grall; Yannick Guillot; Cecilia Guzmán; Triyani Nur Hidayah; George Hilley; Matthias Klinkmüller; Hemin A. Koyi; Chia Yu Lu; Bertrand Maillot; Catherine Meriaux; Faramarz Nilfouroushan; Chang Chih Pan; Daniel Pillot; Rodrigo Portillo; Matthias Rosenau; Wouter P. Schellart; Roy W. Schlische; Andy Take; Bruno Vendeville; Marine Vergnaud; Matteo Vettori; Shih Hsien Wang; Martha O. Withjack; Daniel Yagupsky; Yasuhiro Yamada

doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges

Guido Schreurs, Susanne J.H. Buiter, Jennifer Boutelier, Caroline Burberry, Jean Paul Callot, Cristian Cavozzi, Mariano Cerca, Jian Hong Chen, Ernesto Cristallini, Alexander R. Cruden, Leonardo Cruz, Jean Marc Daniel, Gabriela Da Poian, Victor H. Garcia, Caroline J.S. Gomes, Céline Grall, Yannick Guillot, Cecilia Guzmán, Triyani Nur Hidayah, George HilleyMatthias Klinkmüller, Hemin A. Koyi, Chia Yu Lu, Bertrand Maillot, Catherine Meriaux, Faramarz Nilfouroushan, Chang Chih Pan, Daniel Pillot, Rodrigo Portillo, Matthias Rosenau, Wouter P. Schellart, Roy W. Schlische, Andy Take, Bruno Vendeville, Marine Vergnaud, Matteo Vettori, Shih Hsien Wang, Martha O. Withjack, Daniel Yagupsky, Yasuhiro Yamada

School of Arts and Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences

Rutgers, The State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

We performed a quantitative comparison of brittle thrust wedge experiments to evaluate the variability among analogue models and to appraise the reproducibility and limits of model interpretation. Fifteen analogue modeling laboratories participated in this benchmark initiative. Each laboratory received a shipment of the same type of quartz and corundum sand and all laboratories adhered to a stringent model building protocol and used the same type of foil to cover base and sidewalls of the sandbox. Sieve structure, sifting height, filling rate, and details on off-scraping of excess sand followed prescribed procedures. Our analogue benchmark shows that even for simple plane-strain experiments with prescribed stringent model construction techniques, quantitative model results show variability, most notably for surface slope, thrust spacing and number of forward and backthrusts. One of the sources of the variability in model results is related to slight variations in how sand is deposited in the sandbox. Small changes in sifting height, sifting rate, and scraping will result in slightly heterogeneous material bulk densities, which will affect the mechanical properties of the sand, and will result in lateral and vertical differences in peak and boundary friction angles, as well as cohesion values once the model is constructed. Initial variations in basal friction are inferred to play the most important role in causing model variability. Our comparison shows that the human factor plays a decisive role, and even when one modeler repeats the same experiment, quantitative model results still show variability. Our observations highlight the limits of up-scaling quantitative analogue model results to nature or for making comparisons with numerical models. The frictional behavior of sand is highly sensitive to small variations in material state or experimental set-up, and hence, it will remain difficult to scale quantitative results such as number of thrusts, thrust spacing, and pop-up width from model to nature.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	116-139
Number of pages	24
Journal	Journal of Structural Geology
Volume	92
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005
State	Published - Nov 1 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

Keywords

Analogue modeling
Benchmarking
Brittle wedges
Cohesion
Critical taper
Friction
Sand
Shear zones
Thrust wedges

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10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

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Schreurs, G., Buiter, S. J. H., Boutelier, J., Burberry, C., Callot, J. P., Cavozzi, C., Cerca, M., Chen, J. H., Cristallini, E., Cruden, A. R., Cruz, L., Daniel, J. M., Da Poian, G., Garcia, V. H., Gomes, C. J. S., Grall, C., Guillot, Y., Guzmán, C., Hidayah, T. N., ... Yamada, Y. (2016). Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges. Journal of Structural Geology, 92, 116-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

@article{af6f8c879ed247f9a0eed864432dd135,

title = "Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges",

abstract = "We performed a quantitative comparison of brittle thrust wedge experiments to evaluate the variability among analogue models and to appraise the reproducibility and limits of model interpretation. Fifteen analogue modeling laboratories participated in this benchmark initiative. Each laboratory received a shipment of the same type of quartz and corundum sand and all laboratories adhered to a stringent model building protocol and used the same type of foil to cover base and sidewalls of the sandbox. Sieve structure, sifting height, filling rate, and details on off-scraping of excess sand followed prescribed procedures. Our analogue benchmark shows that even for simple plane-strain experiments with prescribed stringent model construction techniques, quantitative model results show variability, most notably for surface slope, thrust spacing and number of forward and backthrusts. One of the sources of the variability in model results is related to slight variations in how sand is deposited in the sandbox. Small changes in sifting height, sifting rate, and scraping will result in slightly heterogeneous material bulk densities, which will affect the mechanical properties of the sand, and will result in lateral and vertical differences in peak and boundary friction angles, as well as cohesion values once the model is constructed. Initial variations in basal friction are inferred to play the most important role in causing model variability. Our comparison shows that the human factor plays a decisive role, and even when one modeler repeats the same experiment, quantitative model results still show variability. Our observations highlight the limits of up-scaling quantitative analogue model results to nature or for making comparisons with numerical models. The frictional behavior of sand is highly sensitive to small variations in material state or experimental set-up, and hence, it will remain difficult to scale quantitative results such as number of thrusts, thrust spacing, and pop-up width from model to nature.",

keywords = "Analogue modeling, Benchmarking, Brittle wedges, Cohesion, Critical taper, Friction, Sand, Shear zones, Thrust wedges",

author = "Guido Schreurs and Buiter, {Susanne J.H.} and Jennifer Boutelier and Caroline Burberry and Callot, {Jean Paul} and Cristian Cavozzi and Mariano Cerca and Chen, {Jian Hong} and Ernesto Cristallini and Cruden, {Alexander R.} and Leonardo Cruz and Daniel, {Jean Marc} and {Da Poian}, Gabriela and Garcia, {Victor H.} and Gomes, {Caroline J.S.} and C{\'e}line Grall and Yannick Guillot and Cecilia Guzm{\'a}n and Hidayah, {Triyani Nur} and George Hilley and Matthias Klinkm{\"u}ller and Koyi, {Hemin A.} and Lu, {Chia Yu} and Bertrand Maillot and Catherine Meriaux and Faramarz Nilfouroushan and Pan, {Chang Chih} and Daniel Pillot and Rodrigo Portillo and Matthias Rosenau and Schellart, {Wouter P.} and Schlische, {Roy W.} and Andy Take and Bruno Vendeville and Marine Vergnaud and Matteo Vettori and Wang, {Shih Hsien} and Withjack, {Martha O.} and Daniel Yagupsky and Yasuhiro Yamada",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2016",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005",

language = "American English",

volume = "92",

pages = "116--139",

journal = "Journal of Structural Geology",

issn = "0191-8141",

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Schreurs, G, Buiter, SJH, Boutelier, J, Burberry, C, Callot, JP, Cavozzi, C, Cerca, M, Chen, JH, Cristallini, E, Cruden, AR, Cruz, L, Daniel, JM, Da Poian, G, Garcia, VH, Gomes, CJS, Grall, C, Guillot, Y, Guzmán, C, Hidayah, TN, Hilley, G, Klinkmüller, M, Koyi, HA, Lu, CY, Maillot, B, Meriaux, C, Nilfouroushan, F, Pan, CC, Pillot, D, Portillo, R, Rosenau, M, Schellart, WP, Schlische, RW, Take, A, Vendeville, B, Vergnaud, M, Vettori, M, Wang, SH, Withjack, MO, Yagupsky, D & Yamada, Y 2016, 'Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges', Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 92, pp. 116-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

TY - JOUR

T1 - Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges

AU - Schreurs, Guido

AU - Buiter, Susanne J.H.

AU - Boutelier, Jennifer

AU - Burberry, Caroline

AU - Callot, Jean Paul

AU - Cavozzi, Cristian

AU - Cerca, Mariano

AU - Chen, Jian Hong

AU - Cristallini, Ernesto

AU - Cruden, Alexander R.

AU - Cruz, Leonardo

AU - Daniel, Jean Marc

AU - Da Poian, Gabriela

AU - Garcia, Victor H.

AU - Gomes, Caroline J.S.

AU - Grall, Céline

AU - Guillot, Yannick

AU - Guzmán, Cecilia

AU - Hidayah, Triyani Nur

AU - Hilley, George

AU - Klinkmüller, Matthias

AU - Koyi, Hemin A.

AU - Lu, Chia Yu

AU - Maillot, Bertrand

AU - Meriaux, Catherine

AU - Nilfouroushan, Faramarz

AU - Pan, Chang Chih

AU - Pillot, Daniel

AU - Portillo, Rodrigo

AU - Rosenau, Matthias

AU - Schellart, Wouter P.

AU - Schlische, Roy W.

AU - Take, Andy

AU - Vendeville, Bruno

AU - Vergnaud, Marine

AU - Vettori, Matteo

AU - Wang, Shih Hsien

AU - Withjack, Martha O.

AU - Yagupsky, Daniel

AU - Yamada, Yasuhiro

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - We performed a quantitative comparison of brittle thrust wedge experiments to evaluate the variability among analogue models and to appraise the reproducibility and limits of model interpretation. Fifteen analogue modeling laboratories participated in this benchmark initiative. Each laboratory received a shipment of the same type of quartz and corundum sand and all laboratories adhered to a stringent model building protocol and used the same type of foil to cover base and sidewalls of the sandbox. Sieve structure, sifting height, filling rate, and details on off-scraping of excess sand followed prescribed procedures. Our analogue benchmark shows that even for simple plane-strain experiments with prescribed stringent model construction techniques, quantitative model results show variability, most notably for surface slope, thrust spacing and number of forward and backthrusts. One of the sources of the variability in model results is related to slight variations in how sand is deposited in the sandbox. Small changes in sifting height, sifting rate, and scraping will result in slightly heterogeneous material bulk densities, which will affect the mechanical properties of the sand, and will result in lateral and vertical differences in peak and boundary friction angles, as well as cohesion values once the model is constructed. Initial variations in basal friction are inferred to play the most important role in causing model variability. Our comparison shows that the human factor plays a decisive role, and even when one modeler repeats the same experiment, quantitative model results still show variability. Our observations highlight the limits of up-scaling quantitative analogue model results to nature or for making comparisons with numerical models. The frictional behavior of sand is highly sensitive to small variations in material state or experimental set-up, and hence, it will remain difficult to scale quantitative results such as number of thrusts, thrust spacing, and pop-up width from model to nature.

AB - We performed a quantitative comparison of brittle thrust wedge experiments to evaluate the variability among analogue models and to appraise the reproducibility and limits of model interpretation. Fifteen analogue modeling laboratories participated in this benchmark initiative. Each laboratory received a shipment of the same type of quartz and corundum sand and all laboratories adhered to a stringent model building protocol and used the same type of foil to cover base and sidewalls of the sandbox. Sieve structure, sifting height, filling rate, and details on off-scraping of excess sand followed prescribed procedures. Our analogue benchmark shows that even for simple plane-strain experiments with prescribed stringent model construction techniques, quantitative model results show variability, most notably for surface slope, thrust spacing and number of forward and backthrusts. One of the sources of the variability in model results is related to slight variations in how sand is deposited in the sandbox. Small changes in sifting height, sifting rate, and scraping will result in slightly heterogeneous material bulk densities, which will affect the mechanical properties of the sand, and will result in lateral and vertical differences in peak and boundary friction angles, as well as cohesion values once the model is constructed. Initial variations in basal friction are inferred to play the most important role in causing model variability. Our comparison shows that the human factor plays a decisive role, and even when one modeler repeats the same experiment, quantitative model results still show variability. Our observations highlight the limits of up-scaling quantitative analogue model results to nature or for making comparisons with numerical models. The frictional behavior of sand is highly sensitive to small variations in material state or experimental set-up, and hence, it will remain difficult to scale quantitative results such as number of thrusts, thrust spacing, and pop-up width from model to nature.

KW - Analogue modeling

KW - Benchmarking

KW - Brittle wedges

KW - Cohesion

KW - Critical taper

KW - Friction

KW - Sand

KW - Shear zones

KW - Thrust wedges

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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

DO - 10.1016/j.jsg.2016.03.005

M3 - Article

SN - 0191-8141

VL - 92

SP - 116

EP - 139

JO - Journal of Structural Geology

JF - Journal of Structural Geology

ER -

Benchmarking analogue models of brittle thrust wedges

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

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