Underworld

a long term geodynamics simulation platform

Underworld Subduction Model
- Numerical Method

Governing Equations

In the 3D subduction example using Underworld, the dynamics are governed by the standard conservation equations for creeping flow and assuming an incompressbile fluid Convection is driven by a density instability, with the denser lithoshpere overyling the less dense mantle. The slab tip is perturbed so as to initiate subduction.

	(1)
	(2)

is the deviatoric stress tensor, is dynamic pressure, is a prescribed density, is gravitational acceleration, is depth, is velocity

About the Underworld Software Suite

Here we provide a very brief introduction to the Underworld software suite used to run the 3D subduction model in this tutorial.

Underworld is a parallelized particle-in-cell finite element code. It uses a layered approach to provide the user with a flexible computational geodynamics modelling software. Underworld is built on the PICellerator, StGDomain, StGFEM and StGermain packages, and also comes packaged with gLucifer visualisation software (Figure 2). For details on the numerical implementation and how these parts fit together see:

• Moresi, L., Quenette, S., Lemiale, V., Meriaux, C., Appelbe, B., and Mühlhaus, H.B., 2007. Computational approaches to studying non-linear dynamics of the crust and mantle, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 163 (1-4), 69-82, doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2007.06.009

Figure 2: Diagram of Underworld Program Structure (Figure 1.1, Humble,
K. (Ed.), 2010, Underworld User Manual).

-- Wendy Mason - 28 June 2010
-- Margarete Jadamec - 13 April 2010
-- Julian Giordani - 21 May 2010
-- RobertTurnbull - 19 Jan 2006
-- JustinFreeman - 29 Jul 2003