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Thermoelastic stress in oceanic lithosphere due to hotspot reheatingThe effect of hotspot reheating on the intraplate stress field is investigated by modeling the three-dimensional thermal stress field produced by nonuniform temperature changes in an elastic plate. Temperature perturbations are calculated assuming that the lithosphere is heated by a source in the lower part of the thermal lithosphere. A thermal stress model for the elastic lithosphere is calculated by superposing the stress fields resulting from temperature changes in small individual elements. The stress in an elastic plate resulting from a temperature change in each small element is expressed as an infinite series, wherein each term is a source or an image modified from a closed-from half-space solution. The thermal stress solution is applied to midplate swells in oceanic lithosphere with various thermal structures and plate velocities. The results predict a stress field with a maximum deviatoric stress on the order of 100 MPa covering a broad area around the hotspot plume. The predicted principal stress orientations show a complicated geographical pattern, with horizontal extension perpendicular to the hotspot track at shallow depths and compression along the track near the bottom of the elastic lithosphere.
Document ID
19910071426
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Zhu, Anning
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Wiens, Douglas A.
(Washington University Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
October 10, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 96
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
91A56049
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-122
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF EAR-88-16406
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF EAR-90-05161
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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