Nonlinear viscoelastic compaction in sedimentary basins

• Main Author: X.-S. Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2000-01-01
• Series: Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
• Online Access: http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/7/1/2000/npg-7-1-2000.pdf

In the mathematical modelling of sediment compaction and porous media flow, the rheological behaviour of sediments is typically modelled in terms of a nonlinear relationship between effective pressure <i>p</i><i>e </i>and porosity <i>Φ</i>, that is <i>p</i><i>e = </i><i>p</i><i>e (Φ)</i>. The compaction law is essentially a poroelastic one. However, viscous compaction due to pressure solution becomes important at larger depths and causes this relationship to become more akin to a viscous rheology. A generalised viscoelastic compaction model of Maxwell type is formulated, and different styles of nonlinear behaviour are asymptotically analysed and compared in this paper.