3D Modeling of flexural deformation in continental margins

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to obtain a numeri-cal solution for the 3D strain field of a thin elastic plate using the finite element method (FEM). This plate represents the effect of temporal and spatial variation of sedimentary loads that fill-in Subandean basins of the South American plate. The sensitivity of the plate geometrical and mechanical parameters loaded by the sedimentary basins will be tested. The continental regions along the margins where uplift and erosion occurred will be mapped. The software used for the FEM modeling is the MSC Patran/Nastran version 2005 for Windows platform. The present project follows the preliminary results of the lithosphere flexure modeling caused by sub-Andean thrusts and basins. These results show that the posi-tion of the uplift regions obtained using a 3D model differs significantly from 2D models due to the geometrical distribution of the loads, the thermo-mechanical properties of the plate and the shape of the plate limit. The main contribution of this method is to provide a quantitative forecast of the position of the sediments source areas, thus contributing to a better understanding of the history of subsidence of foreland subandean basins.

Prêmio PETROBRAS DE TECNOLOGIA Edição 2005