Localized and chaotic folding: the role of axial plane structures.

Most natural fold systems are not sinusoidal in profile. A widely held view is that such irregularity derives solely from inherited initial geometrical perturbations. Although, undoubtedly, initial perturbations can contribute to irregularity, we explore a different (but complementary) view in which the irregular geometry results from some material or system softening process.

A partially open porous media flow with chaotic advection: towards a model of coupled fields.

In nature, dissipative fluxes of fluid, heat and/or reacting species couple to each other and may also couple to deformation of a surrounding porous matrix. We use the well-known analogy of Hele-Shaw flow to Darcy flow to make a model porous medium with porosity proportional to local cell height. Time- and space-varying fluid injection from multiple source/sink wells lets us create many different kinds of chaotic flows and chemical concentration patterns.

Fracture pattern formation in frictional, cohesive, granular material.

Naturally, deformed rocks commonly contain crack arrays (joints) forming patterns with systematic relationships to the large-scale deformation. Kinematically, joints can be mode-1, -2 or -3 or combinations of these, but there is no overarching theory for the development of the patterns. We develop a model motivated by dislocation pattern formation in metals.

The mechanics of granitoid systems and maximum entropy production rates.

A model for the formation of granitoid systems is developed involving melt production spatially below a rising isotherm that defines melt initiation. Production of the melt volumes necessary to form granitoid complexes within 10(4)-10(7) years demands control of the isotherm velocity by melt advection. This velocity is one control on the melt flux generated spatially just above the melt isotherm, which is the control valve for the behaviour of the complete granitoid system.