Geoinformatika 2012; 3(43) : 48-53

ABOUT MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE OCEANIC LITHOSPHERIC PLATES IN SUBDUCTION ZONE

M.V. Lubkov

A modeling of mechanical behavior of the oceanic viscous-elastic lithospheric plates during its sinking into the viscous mantle in the subduction zone was carried out on the base of variation finite-element method elaborated for viscous-elastic foliated shells subject to the shift rigidity. Friction mantle forces acting on the plate were defined on the base of the Blazius low. An analysis of the obtained results shows that during sinking into the mantle oceanic lithospheric plates are going through bending deformation. And this process depends on thickness and width of the plate and has a non linear behavior. As their width increasing lithospheric plates go via more dramatic bending deformation process and lose their initial form. At the same time increasing of the plate thickness leads to rising its durability and so ability to save initial form. The calculations show that moderately thick and wide enough oceanic lithospheric plates during the sinking, in process of bending deforming, can be shaped into “S” form.

Keywords: viscous-elastic shells, bending deforming, oceanic lithospheric plates.