NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
State of stress, faulting, and eruption characteristics of large volcanoes on MarsThe formation of a large volcano loads the underlying lithospheric plate and can lead to lithospheric flexure and faulting. In turn, lithospheric deformation affects the stress field beneath and within the volcanic edifice and can influence magma transport. Modeling the interaction of these processes is crucial to an understanding of the history of eruption characteristics and tectonic deformation of large volcanoes. We develop models of time-dependent stress and deformation for the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars. By means of a finite element code, we calculate stresses and displacements due to a volcano-shaped load emplaced on an elastic plate overlying a viscoelastic mantle. Models variously incorporate growth of the volcanic load with time and a detachment between volcano and lithosphere. The models illustrate the manner in which time-dependent stresses induced by lithospheric plate flexure beneath the volcanic load may affect eruption histories, and the derived stress fields can be related to tectonic features on and surrounding Martian volcanoes. As a result of flexure there are three regions where stresses become sufficiently large to cause failure by faulting, according to the Mohr-Coulomb criterion: at the surface of the plate just outward of the volcano, near the base of the elastic lithosphere beneath the center of the volcano, and on the upper flanks of the volcano early in its growth history.
Document ID
19950052483
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mcgovern, Patrick J.
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA United States)
Solomon, Sean C.
(Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
December 25, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: E12
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
95A84082
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1937
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-3276
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1077
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available