HelTec - Laboratory for experimental tectonics at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
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Experimental tectonics is the branch of geosciences that uses so-called "analogue models" scaled down from nature to the laboratory to study tectonic processes in situ. Thanks to new materials, testing methods and monitoring techniques, which have been developed in the past two decades, anologue modelling nowadays provides quantitative tectonic oberservations across all relevant spatial and temporal scales. Please find an introductory texts to our lab and methods here and here.
Our experimental tectonics lab facility consists of three basic modules:
1) Material testing featuring a series of material test devices for characterizing rock analogue materials’ properties including friction, elasticity, viscosity etc.
2) Analogue modelling featuring a suite of custom-made deformation devices for simulating (seismo)tectonic and other geological processes
3) Laboratory monitoring providing the means of quantifying deformation in analogue models using various sensors and image correlation methods
Categories
Disciplinary Keywords
Instrumentation
Laboratory infrastructure:
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Material testing
- Rheometer Anton Paar MCR301 (Visco-elastic properties)
- Ring-shear tester Schulze RST-01(Frictional properties)
- Rotational axial/triaxial tester Zwick-Roell Zwickiline (Elasto-plastic properties)
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Analogue modelling
- Compressional, extensional, strike-slip tectonics
- Gravitational flow
- Magmatic intrusion & volcano-tectonics
- Meteoritic impact
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Laboratory monitoring
- Laboratory geodesy & seismology
- High resolution to high speed digital imaging: 5-50 MPx, 1-10.000 Hz (LaVision Imager, Phantom VEO)
- Digital image correlation: DIC/PIV (LaVision Strainmaster) & SfM (Agisoft Metashape)
- Laser scanning (Artec3D Leo)
- Force sensors, MEMS accelerometers & piezotransducers (static to kHz/MHz dynamic)
Instruments
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Axial/Triaxial Tester
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Force Sensor
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MEMS Accelerometer
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Piezotransducer
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Pressure Sensor
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Rheometer
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Ring Shear Tester
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Sandbox Standards
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Vice Setup
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Viscosimeter
Links
Key Publication
- Rosenau, M., Boutelier, D., Leever, K. (2012): Erde analog: experimentelle Einblicke in die Geodynamik. - System Erde, 2, 2, 12-17.
- Rudolf, M., Rosenau, M., and Oncken, O.: Time-dependent frictional properties of granular materials used in analogue modelling: implications for mimicking fault healing during reactivation and inversion, Solid Earth, 14, 311–331.