[aspect-devel] Modeling melt processes with Aspect

[Wolfgang Bangerth]

Hi Jonathan:

> I'm still very new to Aspect and I'm looking to model the role of melt
> in subduction, delamination, etc. I noticed that this is a planned
> feature for Aspect and I was wondering if any work has been done on it
> already. If so, I'd be happy to help with this effort.
>
> If not, what path would you suggest pursuing towards this goal? So far
> I've only implemented simple material models to reduce viscosity when
> an element passes the liquidus, but this is far from the obvious goal
> of tracking melt flow relative to the surrounding rock matrix. I
> imagine the rheologial implications of the latter case are profoundly
> different from the naive approach I'm taking now.
>
> So, suggestions would be really appreciated. Will it be possible to
> implement something like this with clever material model plugins or
> will a modification to the solver be necessary? Thoughts? Thanks in
> advance!

I currently have a visitor here -- Juliane Dannberg -- who is going to 
implement a melt flow model into Aspect. I should let her outline what she 
intends to do herself, as she knows the physics much better.

In short, however, material models can only help you if melt stays in place 
because they are purely local. If you actually need to transport something 
from A to B, then one needs to extend the solver for additional equations that 
need to be computed, and that is what she is doing.

Best
  W.

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolfgang Bangerth               email:            bangerth at math.tamu.edu
                                 www: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~bangerth/