A simple view to the lithosphere rheology (Case study, NW-SE Iran)

The rheology of the lithosphere determines its deformation under given initial and boundary conditions. The rheology of the lithosphere is a function of its composition and structure, pressure, temperature, and state of stress. The concept of strength envelope (rheological profile), firstly developed by Goetze and Evans (1979), is well known (cf. Ranalli, 1995). On the basis of a generalization of experimental results, it is assumed that the deformation regime for any given rock can be subdivided into two domains: brit-tel or frictional, governed by the Coulomb-Navier shear failure criterion, and ductile, governed by the power-law creep equation. The brittle/ductile transition is defined by the equality of frictional strength and ductile strength (for a given strain rate). In this article we review the lithosphere and its behavior by various rheological law based on rock composition, temperature(cold), pressure, with simple numerical model (block in NW-SE Iran) .

Keywords:

lithosphere , temperature , strain , rheology