Isostasy and Flexure of the Lithosphere

2023/09/28 by A. B. Watts
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · #Geological Modeling and Analysis #Drilling and Well Engineering #Seismic Waves and Analysis

paper · doi:10.1017/9781139027748.004

openalex created_date 2020/04/17 · openalex publication_date 2023/09/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14

Abstract

Simple analytical solutions exist for the deflection by line loads of thin elastic beams that overlie an inviscid fluid substrate. Deflections for more complex rectangular- and triangular-shaped loads can be evaluated by integration. The deflection of a beam that varies in thickness along its length is best solved, however, by numerical rather than analytical methods. Foremost among them are finite difference techniques, and both two- and three-dimensional codes are now widely available. Thin-plate theory and a flat Earth are good approximations to make in most geological modelling applications.

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