3D Geological Restoration using a Finite Element Approach

M. R. Santi de and Joao Luiz Campos and Luiz Fernando Martha. ( 2003 )
in: 23th gOcad Meeting, ASGA

Abstract

This work presents a 3D finite element approach for the restoration of geological models. This is a natural extension of a previous work presented by de Santi et al. (2002), which addressed the 2D problem. As in the 2D problem, the use of physical modeling and numerical simulation improves the restoration results by taking into account physical properties of the rock materials and by automating the geological restoration process. A finite element gOcad plug-in (Martha, Campos & Cavalcante Neto, 2001) is used to create a finite element model: a tetrahedral mesh suitable for finite element simulation, material properties, and boundary conditions representing some displacement restrictions and loading that must be applied to simulate the events needed during the restoration process. The analysis program uses a dynamic-relaxation solution algorithm to solve the finite element equation system that represents the geological model. Some modifications were made in the original analysis program to add 3D capabilities: tetrahedral finite elements and a special boundary condition to simulate normal displacement restriction that represents the movement of a rock block over a fault. An example is presented to illustrate the proposed approach in the geological restoration process.

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    BibTeX Reference

    @inproceedings{deSantiRM2003,
     abstract = { This work presents a 3D finite element approach for the restoration of geological models. This is a natural extension of a previous work presented by de Santi et al. (2002), which addressed the 2D problem. As in the 2D problem, the use of physical modeling and numerical simulation improves the restoration results by taking into account physical properties of the rock materials and by automating the geological restoration process. A finite element gOcad plug-in (Martha, Campos & Cavalcante Neto, 2001) is used to create a finite element model: a tetrahedral mesh suitable for finite element simulation, material properties, and boundary conditions representing some displacement restrictions and loading that must be applied to simulate the events needed during the restoration process. The analysis program uses a dynamic-relaxation solution algorithm to solve the finite element equation system that represents the geological model. Some modifications were made in the original analysis program to add 3D capabilities: tetrahedral finite elements and a special boundary condition to simulate normal displacement restriction that represents the movement of a rock block over a fault. An example is presented to illustrate the proposed approach in the geological restoration process. },
     author = { Santi de, M. R. AND Campos, Joao Luiz AND Martha, Luiz Fernando },
     booktitle = { 23th gOcad Meeting },
     month = { "june" },
     publisher = { ASGA },
     title = { 3D Geological Restoration using a Finite Element Approach },
     year = { 2003 }
    }