Università Roma Tre

The goal of this course in to introduce the students to the basics of experimental modelling of tectonic processes. Experimental modelling is based on the use on analogue materials which can respect similarity principles in reproducing natural processes at smaller/faster spatial/temporal scales. The Laboratory of Experimental Tectonics was the first one developed in Italy, inspired by the long-term international tradition of analogue modelling. In this class, we will use continuum mechanics, which describes the response of a material to an imposed force, to study and understand cause-effect relationships between geometry, kinematics and dynamics of the solid earth. Introductory lectures provide the theoretical background on physical and rheology properties of analogue materials, scaling and quantification of natural results. The second phase of the course proposes hands on exercises during which the students will learn how to address scientific questions through building experimental models. Each argument will be presented offering an initial basic theoretical background which will be subsequently implemented by the widest range of updated interpretations and natural examples. Students will be expected to actively participate to the class activities (e.g. reading scientific papers, homework assignments, set-up of analogue models, in-class presentations).