A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine

Abstract The crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of polycrystalline olivine affects both the viscous and seismic anisotropy of Earth's upper mantle with wide geodynamical implications. In this methods paper, we present a continuous field formulation of the popular directors method for...

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Main Authors: Nicholas M. Rathmann, Klaus Mosegaard, Ivanka M. O. Bekkevold, David A. Lilien, David J. Prior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011831
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author Nicholas M. Rathmann
Klaus Mosegaard
Ivanka M. O. Bekkevold
David A. Lilien
David J. Prior
author_facet Nicholas M. Rathmann
Klaus Mosegaard
Ivanka M. O. Bekkevold
David A. Lilien
David J. Prior
author_sort Nicholas M. Rathmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of polycrystalline olivine affects both the viscous and seismic anisotropy of Earth's upper mantle with wide geodynamical implications. In this methods paper, we present a continuous field formulation of the popular directors method for modeling the strain‐induced evolution of olivine CPOs, assuming the activation of a single preferred crystal slip system. The formulation reduces the problem of CPO evolution to a linear matrix problem that can easily be integrated alongside large‐scale geodynamical flow models, and conveniently minimizes the degrees of freedom necessary to represent CPO fields. We validate the CPO model against existing deformation experiments and naturally deformed samples, as well as the popular discrete grain model D‐Rex. A numerical model of viscoplastic thermal convection is built to illustrate how flow and CPO evolution may be two‐way coupled, suggesting that CPO‐induced viscous anisotropy does not necessarily strongly affect convection time scales, boundary (lid) stresses, and seismic anisotropy, compared to isotropic viscoplastic rheologies. As a consequence, geodynamical modeling that relies on an isotropic rheology (one‐way coupling) might suffice for predicting seismic anisotropy under some circumstances. Finally, we discuss limitations and shortcomings of our method, such as representing D‐ and E‐type fabrics or modeling flows with mixed fabric types, and potential improvements such as accounting for the effect of dynamic recrystallization.
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spelling doaj-art-579f5b3a5e754d0389178e569fa068c32025-08-20T02:00:03ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272024-12-012512n/an/a10.1029/2024GC011831A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline OlivineNicholas M. Rathmann0Klaus Mosegaard1Ivanka M. O. Bekkevold2David A. Lilien3David J. Prior4Niels Bohr Institute University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkNiels Bohr Institute University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkNiels Bohr Institute University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Indiana University Bloomington IN USADepartment of Geology University of Otago Otago New ZealandAbstract The crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of polycrystalline olivine affects both the viscous and seismic anisotropy of Earth's upper mantle with wide geodynamical implications. In this methods paper, we present a continuous field formulation of the popular directors method for modeling the strain‐induced evolution of olivine CPOs, assuming the activation of a single preferred crystal slip system. The formulation reduces the problem of CPO evolution to a linear matrix problem that can easily be integrated alongside large‐scale geodynamical flow models, and conveniently minimizes the degrees of freedom necessary to represent CPO fields. We validate the CPO model against existing deformation experiments and naturally deformed samples, as well as the popular discrete grain model D‐Rex. A numerical model of viscoplastic thermal convection is built to illustrate how flow and CPO evolution may be two‐way coupled, suggesting that CPO‐induced viscous anisotropy does not necessarily strongly affect convection time scales, boundary (lid) stresses, and seismic anisotropy, compared to isotropic viscoplastic rheologies. As a consequence, geodynamical modeling that relies on an isotropic rheology (one‐way coupling) might suffice for predicting seismic anisotropy under some circumstances. Finally, we discuss limitations and shortcomings of our method, such as representing D‐ and E‐type fabrics or modeling flows with mixed fabric types, and potential improvements such as accounting for the effect of dynamic recrystallization.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011831CPOfabricviscous anisotropyseismic anisotropymantle flowthermal convection
spellingShingle Nicholas M. Rathmann
Klaus Mosegaard
Ivanka M. O. Bekkevold
David A. Lilien
David J. Prior
A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
CPO
fabric
viscous anisotropy
seismic anisotropy
mantle flow
thermal convection
title A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
title_full A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
title_fullStr A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
title_full_unstemmed A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
title_short A Spectral Directors Method for Modeling the Coupled Evolution of Flow and CPO in Polycrystalline Olivine
title_sort spectral directors method for modeling the coupled evolution of flow and cpo in polycrystalline olivine
topic CPO
fabric
viscous anisotropy
seismic anisotropy
mantle flow
thermal convection
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011831
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