Deep ductile shear localization facilitates near-orthogonal strike-slip faulting in a thin brittle lithosphere

Some active fault systems comprise near-orthogonal conjugate strike-slip faults, as highlighted by the 2019 Ridgecrest and the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake sequences. In conventional failure theory, orthogonal faulting requires a pressure-insensitive rock strength, which is unlikely in the brittle lithosphere. Here, we conduct 3D numerical simulations to test the hypothesis that near-orthogonal faults can form by inheriting the geometry of deep ductile shear bands. Shear bands nucleated in the deep ductile layer, a pressure-insensitive material, form at 45 degree from the maximum principal stress. As they grow upwards into the brittle layer, they progressively rotate towards the preferred brittle faulting angle, ~30 degree, forming helical shaped faults. If the brittle layer is sufficiently thin, the rotation is incomplete and the near-orthogonal geometry is preserved at the surface. The preservation is further facilitated by a lower confining pressure in the shallow portion of the brittle layer. For this inheritance to be effective, a thick ductile fault root beneath the brittle layer is necessary. The model offers a possible explanation for orthogonal faulting in Ridgecrest, Salton Trough, and Wharton basin. Conversely, faults nucleated within the brittle layer form at the optimal angle for brittle faulting and can cut deep into the ductile layer before rotating to 45 degree. Our results thus reveal the significant interactions between the structure of faults in the brittle upper lithosphere and their deep ductile roots

Deep ductile shear localization facilitates near-orthogonal strike-slip faulting in a thin brittle lithosphere

Some active fault systems comprise near-orthogonal conjugate strike-slip faults, as highlighted by the 2019 Ridgecrest and the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake sequences. In conventional failure theory, orthogonal faulting requires a pressure-insensitive rock strength, which is unlikely in the brittle lithosphere. Here, we conduct 3D numerical simulations to test the hypothesis that near-orthogonal faults can form by inheriting the geometry of deep ductile shear bands. Shear bands nucleated in the deep ductile layer, a pressure-insensitive material, form at 45 degree from the maximum principal stress. As they grow upwards into the brittle layer, they progressively rotate towards the preferred brittle faulting angle, ~30 degree, forming helical shaped faults. If the brittle layer is sufficiently thin, the rotation is incomplete and the near-orthogonal geometry is preserved at the surface. The preservation is further facilitated by a lower confining pressure in the shallow portion of the brittle layer. For this inheritance to be effective, a thick ductile fault root beneath the brittle layer is necessary. The model offers a possible explanation for orthogonal faulting in Ridgecrest, Salton Trough, and Wharton basin. Conversely, faults nucleated within the brittle layer form at the optimal angle for brittle faulting and can cut deep into the ductile layer before rotating to 45 degree. Our results thus reveal the significant interactions between the structure of faults in the brittle upper lithosphere and their deep ductile roots

3D simulation of the matter transport by surface diffusion within a level-set context

International audienceWithin the framework of the sintering process simulation, this paper proposes a numerical strategy for the direct simulation of the matter transport by surface diffusion. A level-set method is used to describe the topological changes which arise at the free boundary of the sintering particles. The surface velocity is found to be proportional to the surface Laplacian of the curvature, that is, proportional to the fourth-order derivative of the level-set function. Consequently, both curvature and velocity must be computed carefully and with accuracy. Finally, three-dimensional simulations are shown and investigated

Viscoplastic and temperature behavior of Zn–Cu–Ti alloy sheets: experiments, characterization, and modeling

It has been experimentally observed that the Zn–Cu–Ti zinc alloy shows a strong influence of strain rate and temperature on its plastic behavior. A significant change in the material response is seen with relatively small strain rate variations or temperature. In this work, these effects are addressed through the Cazacu–Plunket–Barlat 2006 (CPB-2006) yield criterion and the Johnson–Cook hardening law. The tests were carried out over the three main directions: rolling, diagonal, and transversal. Three strain rate conditions (0.002, 0.02, and 0.2 s−1) and three temperatures (20, 60, and 80 °C) were tested. Although the experimental results exhibit a significant influence of the strain rate and temperature on stress–strain curves for all tested directions, such two variables do not practically affect the Lankford coefficients. The proposed model calibration procedure is found to describe the material responses properly under the studied conditions.Fil: Alister, Francisco. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile. Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Celentano, Diego Javier. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile. Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Signorelli, Javier Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bouchard, Pierre Olivier. Ecole Des Mines de Paris; FranciaFil: Pino Muñoz, Daniel. Ecole Des Mines de Paris; FranciaFil: Cruchaga, Marcela. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Chil

Characterization of the Elastoplastic Response of Low Zn-Cu-Ti Alloy Sheets Using the CPB-06 Criterion

Unlike other HCP metals such as titanium and magnesium, the behavior of zinc alloys hasonly been modeled in the literature. For the low Zn-Cu-Ti alloy sheet studied in this work, theanisotropy is clearly seen on the stress-strain curves and Lankford coefficients. These featuresimpose a rigorous characterization and an adequate selection of the constitutive model to obtain anaccurate representation of the material behavior in metal forming simulations. To describe theelastoplastic behavior of the alloy, this paper focuses on the material characterization through theapplication of the advanced Cazacu-Plunket-Barlat 2006 (CPB-06 for short) yield function combinedwith the well-known Hollomon hardening law. To this end, a two-stage methodology is proposed.Firstly, the material characterization is performed via tensile test measurements on sheet samplescut along the rolling, diagonal and transverse directions in order to fit the parameters involved inthe associate CPB-06/Hollomon constitutive model. Secondly, these material parameters areassessed and validated in the simulation of the bulge test using different dies. The results obtainedwith the CPB-06/Hollomon model show a good agreement with the experimental data reported inthe literature. Therefore, it is concluded that this model represents a consistent approach to estimatethe behavior of Zn-Cu-Ti sheets under different forming conditions.Fil: Alister, Francisco. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería; ChileFil: Celentano, Diego Javier. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Escuela de Ingeniería; ChileFil: Signorelli, Javier Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Buchard, Pierre Oliver. Ecole des Mines de Paris. Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Pino Muñoz, Daniel. Ecole des Mines de Paris. Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Cruchaga, Marcela. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Chil

Biphasic Bioceramic Obtained from Byproducts of Sugar Beet Processing for Use in Bioactive Coatings and Bone Fillings

This study focuses on developing hydroxyapatite synthesized from a CaCO3 -rich byproduct of sugar beet processing called Carbocal® using a hydrothermal reactor. The purpose of this biomaterial is to enhance the osteoinductivity of implantable surfaces and serve as a bone filler, providing a sustainable and economically more affordable alternative. This research involved compositional analysis and micro- and macrostructural physicochemical characterization, complemented with bioactivity and live/dead assays. The biphasic nature of the Carbocal®-derived sample was significant within the context of the bioactivity concept previously proposed in the literature. The bioactivity of the biomaterial was demonstrated through a viability test, where the cell growth was nearly equivalent to that of the positive control. For comparison purposes, the same tests were conducted with two additional samples: hydroxyapatite obtained from CaCO3 and commercial hydroxyapatite. The resulting product of this process is biocompatible and possesses properties similar to natural hydroxyapatite. Consequently, this biomaterial shows potential as a scaffold in tissue engineering and as an adhesive filler to promote bone regeneration within the context of the circular bioeconomy in the geographical area proposed.Junta de Andalucía14 página

Robust estimation of diagnostic rate and real incidence of COVID-19 for European policymakers

Policymakers need a clear and fast assessment of the real spread of the epidemic of COVID-19 in each of their respective countries. Standard measures of the situation provided by the governments include reported positive cases and total deaths. While total deaths immediately indicate that countries like Italy and Spain have the worst situation as of mid April 2020, on its own, reported cases do not provide a correct picture of the situation. The reason is that different countries diagnose diversely and present very distinctive reported case fatality rate (CFR). The same levels of reported incidence and mortality might hide a very different underlying picture. Here we present a straightforward and robust estimation of the diagnostic rate in each European country. From that estimation we obtain an uniform unbiased incidence of the epidemic. The method to obtain the diagnostic rate is transparent and empiric. The key assumption of the method is that the real CFR in Europe of COVID-19 is not strongly country-dependent. We show that this number is not expected to be biased due to demography nor the way total deaths are reported. The estimation protocol has a dynamic nature, and it has been giving converging numbers for diagnostic rates in all European countries as of mid April 2020. From this diagnostic rate, policy makers can obtain an Effective Potential Growth (EPG) updated everyday providing an unbiased assessment of the countries with more potential to have an uncontrolled situation. The method developed will be used to track possible improvements on the diagnostic rate in European countries as the epidemic evolves.CP, PJC and MC received funding from La Caixa Foundation (ID 100010434), under agreement LCF/PR/GN17/50300003; PJC received funding from Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR), Grup Unitat de Tuberculosi Experimental, 2017-SGR-500; CP, DL, SA, MC received funding from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades and FEDER, with the project PGC2018-095456-B-I00. EA-L received funding from Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad under grant number SAF2017-88019-C3-2-R. This project has been  partially funded by the European Comission - DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology through the contract LC-01485746Preprin

Full field modeling of recrystallization and grain growth thanks to a level set approach: towards modeling by industry

International audienceMetal forming modeling can be predictive only if the strain rate, strain and temperature dependency of the flow behaviour are correctly described. The mechanical properties and behaviour of metallic materials mainly depends on the content and structure of dislocation network, this points out the need to incorporate microstructure concepts into the numerical models. The goal is to correctly describe the main physical mechanisms occurring in metals during thermomechanical processes i.e. work-hardening, recovery, grain boundary migration, nucleation and grain growth related to dynamic, static or metadynamic recrystallization. Macroscopic and homogenized models are widely used in the industry, mainly due to their low computational cost. If this mean field framework is quite convenient, it can be synonymous, for a given material, with a large amount of experiments with advanced laboratory devices. Moreover, the homogenization of the microstructure does not permit to capture some very local phenomena

Asteroid (101955) Bennu’s weak boulders and thermally anomalous equator

Thermal inertia and surface roughness are proxies for the physical characteristics of planetary surfaces. Global maps of these two properties distinguish the boulder population on near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (101955) Bennu into two types that differ in strength, and both have lower thermal inertia than expected for boulders and meteorites. Neither has strongly temperature-dependent thermal properties. The weaker boulder type probably would not survive atmospheric entry and thus may not be represented in the meteorite collection. The maps also show a high–thermal inertia band at Bennu’s equator, which might be explained by processes such as compaction or strength sorting during mass movement, but these explanations are not wholly consistent with other data. Our findings imply that other C-complex NEAs likely have boulders similar to those on Bennu rather than finer-particulate regoliths. A tentative correlation between albedo and thermal inertia of C-complex NEAs may be due to relative abundances of boulder types