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Modelling of sedimentary systems
Head of group: Katrin Huhn
Geodynamic and geological processes at active and passive ocean margins were extensively studied during the last decades. Extensive geophysical and geological datasets provide a detailed insight into the processes controlling the margin evolution. However, recently high resolution datasets reveal a more complex interplay of processes and a multitude of control factors. Numerical process simulations enable to examine such complex processes and their interactions as well as to identify and to quantify key factors and their influences of the growing processes of an ocean margin. Increasing computing capacity allows recently analyzing the development of a margin even over geological long-time periods. These simulations combine information from different datasets and permit continuative and complementary interpretations to reach a better understanding of processes and control factors.
Current projects
- Physical behaviour of sheared sediments
- Fluid-sediment interactions along the benthic boundary layer
- Controlling parameters of continental slope destabilisation and gravitational mass transport processes
- Neotectonics and sediment transport in the Cretan Sea (Greece)
- Sediment transport pattern along the Transkei Basin (South Africa)
- Mechanics and dynamics of active continental margins
- Particle transport in upwelling regions
Methods
Discrete Element Method (DEM)
The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a granular based numerical simulation technique. A 'synthetic' material package is built up of discrete spherical particles, e.g. spheres, discs of ellipsoids. They interact at common contact points due to given boundary conditions according to simple physical laws. Using Newton's second law can be used to calculated displacements and new particle positions.
Continuums methods
Continuum approaches (e.g., the finite-difference and finite-element method) are used to gain numerical approximations for complex geological processes. Typically, the deformation of a given structure under applied stress conditions is simulated. Thereby, the basic assumption of the continuum approach is the presence of a coherent model domain all over the model run.
Sea floor mapping
Bathymetry / sediment echo sound
Staff
| Name | Phone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartzke, Gerhard | +49 421 218 - 65870 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Farley, Sarah-Jane | +49 421 218 - 65865 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Kuhlmann, Jannis | +49 421 218 - 65873 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Meilianda, Ella | +49 421 218 - 65867 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Podszun, Lina | +49 421 218 - 65884 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Torbahn, Lutz | +49 421 218 - 65866 | +49 421 218 - 65872 |  |
| Wenk, Linda | +49 421 218 - 65871 | +49 421 218 - 65515 |  |
