Brittle Deformation of Damaged Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks and Their Implications on Plate Bending

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of damage on the brittle deformation of mafic and ultramafic rocks has been investigated by performing triaxial deformation experiments on thermally cracked and intact rock samples. The investigation was performed by recording the axial and lateral strains during deformation while simultaneously capturing the ultrasonic velocity, and electrical resistivity. While the peak strength is presumably controlled by the stiff intrinsic fractures, the crack opening mode also showed critical effects on the attained peak strength. The pore pressure distribution showed an apparent control over the dynamic Young's modulus as the ratio between the dynamic and static modulus of thermally cracked rocks is significantly higher than that of intact rocks. The compliant nature and the higher inelastic volumetric strain of the thermally cracked samples further indicated a possible explanation to the steep dipping plates and the taller topographic heights at the trench outer rise systems of old subduction zones.