In this simulation a strong, layered, cover is allowed to collapse into an underlying void, elements are coloured according to their incremental displacement magnitude. The average element radius in this example is approx. 0.75 m. The use of the incremental displacement attribute brings out well the manner in which the collapsing beams impact each other before finally coming to rest.
In this example the evolution of cover deformation due to piston-like subsidence at depth is shown in terms of both simple geometry and as incremental maximum shear strain calculated at each element. Like most simulations this one starts with a period of equilibration with no boundary displacement. Max. shear strain is an attribute which reflects well the location of fracturing and faulting as it evolves within the cover.
In this 3D simulation two normal faults overlap in the central part of the domain. At this stage of evolution a relay ramp has formed and is in the process of being breached. Here we show an animation of depth slices upwards from the base of the model. The attribute used to colour the elements is total maximum shear strain. 3D strain was calculated using cdem3D_viewer by Nestor Cardozo, the animation was created using ImageTank
In this 3D simulation two low-angle normal faults overlap in the central part of the domain. This animation of the geometry seen from above shows the evolution of both synthetic and antithetic faulting in the frictional-cohesive cover. The animation was created using ImageTank