Viscous energy dissipation and strain partitioning in partially molten rocks

Benjamin K. Holtzman, David L. Kohlsted, Jason Phipps Morgan

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67 Scopus citations

Abstract

We develop a steady-state fluid-mechanical analysis describing the effect of strain partitioning on viscous energy dissipation. As observed in experimental studies of shear deformation of partially molten rocks, strain partitions when melt segregates because viscosity is reduced in regions of elevated melt fraction. The equations derived here are based on parameters measured in experiments, describing the evolution of melt distribution and rheological properties. We find that the dissipation depends strongly on the configuration of the melt-rich network of shear zones, including the average angle, volume fraction of melt and amplification of strain rate in the melt-rich bands. Minima in energy dissipation as a function of band angle develop, corresponding to configurations of melt networks that minimize the difference in mean stress between the band and the non-band regions. We propose that the organization of band networks occurs by the interplay between strain localization and viscosity variations associated with melt segregation. The band networks maintain a steady-state angle during shear by continuously pumping melt through the network. The development of strain partitioning in melt-rich networks will modify the energetics of melting and melt transport by efficiently extracting melt and reducing effective viscosity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2569-2592
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Petrology
Volume46
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank numerous people for discussions that contributed to this paper, including Reid Cooper, Saswata Hier Majumder, Marc Hirschmann and members of the Kohlstedt group. Yasuko Takei’s very thoughtful critique greatly improved this analysis. After much scrituny and agony, she finally agreed to let me (B.K.H.) continue with this paper. The authors would also like to thank Julian Mecklenburgh, Jean Louis Vign-eresse and Dave Stevenson for their thorough reviews. The research was supported by NSF grants OCE-0327143 and INT-0123224 to D.L.K. and a Fulbright Fellowship to France for B.K.H.

Keywords

  • Melt transport
  • Rheology
  • Self-organization
  • Strain localization
  • Strain partitioning

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