Coupling of PFC2D and ANSYS® – concepts to combine the best of two worlds for improved geodynamic models

Geodynamic processes have been the object of a large number of modeling studies during the last decade. Continuum-based numerical models give valuable insights into the ductile, temperature- and strainrate dependent behavior of rocks at crustal to lithospheric scale. The distinct structures of brittle tectonics near the Earth’s surface, which cannot be properly addressed by continuum methods, are well reproduced by analogue “sand-box” models. However, as both domains interact strongly, it remains a challenging task to incorporate them into a coupled numerical model. In this paper, the formation of half-grabens is modeled by thermomechanically coupled finite-element models (ANSYS^®) and, in order to simulate brittle tectonics, by high-resolution PFC^2D models. Additionally, concepts for mechanical coupling of a large-scale ANSYS^® model and a PFC^2D submodel are provided.