Poroviscoelastic Gravitational Dynamics

Abstract

AbstractGlobal‐scale periodic deformation has been studied using the (visco)elastic gravitational theory, which assumes a planetary body consists of solid or liquid layers. Recent planetary exploration missions, however, suggest that a global layer of a mixture of solid and liquid exists in several planetary bodies. This study provides a theory of periodic deformation of such a layer unifying the viscoelastic gravitational theory with the theory of poroelasticity without introducing additional constraints. The governing equation system and a formulation suitable for numerical calculation are given. Equations used to calculate the energy dissipation rate are also given. The analytical solutions for a homogeneous sphere are obtained using an eigenvalue approach. Simple numerical calculations assuming a homogeneous sphere reveal that a numerical instability occurs if a thick porous layer, a low permeability, or a high frequency is assumed. This instability can be avoided by choosing an appropriate interior structure model that is numerically equivalent. Different simple numerical calculations adopting a multilayered, radially varying interior profile reveal that the radial profile of the tidal heating rate for a fluid‐saturated porous layer and that for a low‐viscosity solid layer are completely different. In addition, the radial variation in porosity can lead to a factor of ∼100 increase in the local heating rate. These results indicate that future studies should consider a wider variety of detailed interior structure models.