Nonlinear Viscoelastic Compaction in Sedimentary Basins

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 $p_e$ and porosity $ϕ$, that is $p_e=p_e(ϕ)$. 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.

No reviews yet.

No comments yet.