FieldStone

This project was started with my students in mind, i.e. BSc, MSc and PhD Geology/Geophysics students at Utrecht University. With regards to the mathematics involved, I have chosen to use as little jargon as possible unless it is a term that is commonly found in the geodynamics literature (methods paper as well as application papers). There is no mathematical proof of any theorem that may be mentioned but I will try to refer to the appropriate sources (i.e. Numerical Analysis, Finite Element and Linear Algebra textbooks) when possible. If you find that this books lacks references to Sobolev spaces, Lipschitz domains and the like, this book is just not for you.

The 100+ codes I share on github are by no means optimised as I have chosen code readability over code efficiency. I have also often chosen to avoid resorting to multiple code files or even functions in order to favour a sequential reading of the codes. These codes are not designed to form the basis of a high-resolution high-performance geodynamics code. Existing open source highly optimised codes shoud be preferred, such as for example ASPECT, CitcomS , LaMEM , ptatin3d , PyLith, Underworld, ...

All kinds of feedback is welcome on the text (grammar, typos, ...), the equations or on the code(s). You will have my eternal gratitude if you wish to contribute an example, a benchmark, a cookbook, or even ask questions.

This project is now split in three: The first part is a collection of chapters about physics, geodynamics, Finite Elements, Finite Differences, Rheology, and the syllabuses I use for teaching at UU. The second is a collection of about 150 'stones', i.e. python codes with additional documentation. The third is an attempt at organising a collection of 4000+ articles per topic, area, method, etc ...

Syllabus(es)	The Stones	Literature
		html format

All the python scripts and latex files for the entire project are available on github . In particular my ginormous .bib file containing 4000+ references is there too.

Disclaimer: unavoidably with such a wide ranging project like this there are quite a few things in this huge document I probably do not understand as well as I would want to, or that I am simply wrong about. I sometimes write open questions in the text about such things. My commitment is to revisit this document time and time again. This is not a book, it has not been edited by anybody. It is not perfect in any way. I nevertheless hope it will be useful to many in the long run.

My publications

• Published: 40
• Submitted: 3
• 1522 citations (944 since 2019)
• h-index: 22 (17 since 2019)
• i10-index: 30 (25 since 2019)

• Solid Earth: 10
• G3: 6
• JGR (solid earth): 3
• GRL: 4
• EPSL: 1
• GJI: 2
• PEPI: 2
• JGR (planets): 1
• GMD: 1

**** In preparation ********************************************

On the choice of finite element for applications in geodynamics. Part II: A comparison of simplex and hypercube elements,
C. Thieulot and W. Bangerth.

Magnetic Terrain Effect and Paleomagnetism: New Evidence from Forward Modelling Mount Etna Unravels Large Local Magnetic Field Anomalies,
A.E. Hendrickx, C. Thieulot, L.V. de Groot.

Quantifying grain contact and grain volume stress fields in simulated sandstone: a high-resolution FEM approach,
T. Shinohara, C. Thieulot, C.J. Spiers and Suzanne J.T. Hangx.

Effects of slab dragging on slab morphology and stress of the strongly arcuate eastern Caribbean subduction system,
M. Fraters, W. Spakman, C. Thieulot and D. van Hinsbergen.

**** Submitted *************************************************

Plume-driven lithosphere delamination at continental breakup in the NE Atlantic region,
A. Lavecchia, W. Spakman, C. Gaina, C. Thieulot ,
Submitted to Nature Communications.

Quantifying mantle mixing through configurational entropy ,
E. van der Wiel, C. Thieulot and D. van Hinsbergen., submitted to Solid Earth, link

The global gravity field of Mars reveals an active interior,
Bart Root, Weilun Qin, C. Thieulot, Youandi van der Tang,
Submitted to JGR Planets .

**** Peer-reviewed *********************************************

[40] Brittle-ductile rheological behavior in subduction zones: effects of strength ratio between the plastic yield stress and the weak phase strength in a bi-phase system,
A. Maitre, F. Gueydan, C. Thieulot and E. Oliot,
GRL, 51, e2024GL108405, 2024, link.

[39] Benchmarking the accuracy of higher order particle methods in geodynamic models of transient flow,
R. Gassmoeller, J. Dannberg, W. Bangerth, G. Puckett and C. Thieulot ,
Geoscientific Model Development (GMD), 2024. link

[38] Linking rates of slab sinking to long-term lower mantle flow and mixing ,
E. van der Wiel, D.J.J. van Hinsbergen, C. Thieulot and W. Spakman,
EPSL 625, p118471, 2024, link.

[37] MaQuIs - Concept for a Mars Quantum Gravity Mission ,
L. Wörner, B. Root, Ph. Bouyer, C. Braxmaier, D. Dirkx, J. Encarnarcao, E. Hauber, H. Hussmann,
O. Karatekin, A. Koch, L. Kumanchik, F. Migliaccio, M. Reguzzoni, B. Ritter, M. Schilling,
C. Schubert, C. Thieulot , W. von Klitzing, O. Witasse
Planetary and Space Science 239, 105800, 2023. link

[36] Modelling deep rooted thrusted mechanism of crustal thickening for Eastern Tibet,
P. Pitard, A. Replumaz, C. Thieulot , and M.-P. Doin,
Geophysical Research Letters 50, 10.1029/2023GL104134, 2023. link

[35] The effect of temperature-dependent material properties on simple thermal models of subduction zones,
I. van Zelst, C. Thieulot and T.J. Craig,
Solid Earth 14, 683–707, 10.5194/se-14-683-2023, 2023. link

[34] Rifting Venus: Insights from Numerical Modeling ,
A. Regorda, C. Thieulot, I. van Zelst, Z. Erdös and S. Buiter,
JGR: Planets 128, 10.1029/2022JE007588, 2023. link

[33] Benchmark forward gravity schemes: the gravity field of a realistic lithosphere model WINTERC-G,
B.C. Root, J. Sebera, W. Szwillus, C. Thieulot, Z. Martinec and J. Fullea,
Solid Earth, 10.5194/se-13-849-2022, 2022. link

[32] 101 Geodynamic modelling: How to design, carry out, and interpret numerical studies ,
I. van Zelst, F. Crameri, A.E. Pusok, A. Glerum, J. Dannberg, and C. Thieulot,
Solid Earth, 10.5194/se-13-583-2022, 2022. link

[31] On the choice of finite element for applications in geodynamics,
C. Thieulot and W. Bangerth,
Solid Earth 13, p. 229-249, 2022. link

[30] Exhumation History Along the Muli Thrust-Implication for Crustal Thickening Mechanism in Eastern Tibet,
P. Pitard, A. Replumaz, M-L Chevalier, P-H Leloup, M. Bai, M-P Doin, C. Thieulot, X. Ou, M. Balvay, H. Li,
Geophysical Research Letters 48(14), p. e2021GL093677, 2021. link

[29] Towards the application of Stokes flow equations to structural restoration simulations,
M. Schuh-Senlis, C. Thieulot, P. Cupillard and G. Caumon,
Solid Earth 11, p1909-1930, link, 2020.

[28] 3D numerical modeling of crustal polydiapirs with Volume-Of-Fluid methods,
A. Louis-Napoleon, M. Gerbault, T. Bonometti, C. Thieulot, R. Martin and O. Vanderhaeghe,
Geophysical Journal International 222, p474-506, 2020, link.

[27] The Geodynamic World Builder: a solution for complex initial conditions in numerical modelling ,
M. Fraters and C. Thieulot and A. van den Berg and W. Spakman,
Solid Earth 10, 1785-1807, 2019, link.

[26] Efficient and Practical Newton Solvers for Nonlinear Stokes Systems in Geodynamic Problems,
M.R.T. Fraters, W. Bangerth, C. Thieulot , A.C. Glerum and W. Spakman,
Geophysical Journal International, 2019, link

[25] The effect of obliquity on temperature in subduction zones: insights from 3-D numerical modeling,
A. Plunder, C. Thieulot and D.J.J. van Hinsbergen,
Solid Earth 9, 759-776, 2018, link

[24] GHOST: Geoscientific Hollow Sphere Tessellation,
C. Thieulot,
Solid Earth 9, 1169-1177, 2018, link

[23] Analytical solution for viscous incompressible Stokes flow in a spherical shell,
C. Thieulot,
Solid Earth 8, 1181-1191, 2017, link

[22] Implementing nonlinear viscoplasticity in ASPECT: benchmarking and applications to 3D subduction modeling,
A. Glerum, C. Thieulot, M.Fraters, C. Blom, and Wim Spakman,
Solid Earth 10.5194/se-9-267-2018, 2018. link

[21] Lithosphere erosion and continental breakup: interaction of extension, plume upwelling and melting,
A. Lavecchia, C. Thieulot, F. Beekman, S. Cloetingh and S. Clark,
E.P.S.L. 467, p89-98, 10.1016/j.epsl.2017.03.028, 2017. link

[20] Benchmarking Numerical Models of Brittle Thrust Wedges ,
Buiter, S. JH and Schreurs, G. and Albertz, M. and Gerya, T. and Kaus, B.
and Landry, W. and Le Pourhiet, L. and Mishin, Y. and Egholm, D. and Cooke, M.
and B. Maillot and C. Thieulot and T. Crook and D. May and P. Souloumiac and Ch. Beaumont,
Journal of Structural Geology 92, p140-177, 2016, link

[19] A community benchmark for viscoplastic thermal convection in a 2-D square box ,
N. Tosi, C. Stein, L. Noack, C. Huettig, P. Maierova, H. Samuel, D.R. Davies, C.R. Wilson,
S.C. Kramer, C. Thieulot, A. Glerum, M. Fraters, W. Spakman, A. Rozel, P.J. Tackley,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 16, doi:10.1002/2015GC005807, 2015.

[18] Dynamics of intra-oceanic subduction initiation, part 2: supra-subduction zone ophiolite
formation and metamorphic sole exhumation in context of absolute plate motions,
D.J.J. van Hinsbergen, K. Peters, M. Maffione, W. Spakman, C. Guilmette, C. Thieulot,
O. Pluemper, D. Guerer, F.M. Brouwer, E. Aldanmaz, N. Kaymakci,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 16, p1771-1785, 2015, link

[17] Dynamics of intraoceanic subduction initiation: 1. Oceanic detachment fault inversion
and the formation of supra-subduction zone ophiolites,
M. Maffione, C. Thieulot, D.J.J. van Hinsbergen, A. Morris, O. Pluemper and W. Spakman,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 16, p1753-1770, 2015.

[16] Three-dimensional numerical simulations of crustal systems undergoing orogeny and
subjected to surface processes,
C. Thieulot, P. Steer and R.S. Huismans,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst, doi:10.1002/2014GC005490, 2015.

[15] Extensional inheritance and surface processes as controlling factors of mountain belt structure,
Z. Erdos, R.S. Huismans, Peter van der Beek and C. Thieulot,
Journal of Geophysical Research, 119, doi:10.1002/2014JB011408.

[14] Using the level set method in geodynamical modelling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface,
B. Hillebrand, C. Thieulot, T. Geenen, A. van den Berg and W. Spakman,
Solid Earth, 2014.

[13] 3D numerical modelling of graben interaction and linkage: case study of Canyonlands,
V. Allken, R.S. Huismans, H. Fossen and C. Thieulot,
Basin Research (2012) 25, 1-12, doi: 10.1111/bre.12010

[12] Factors controlling the mode of rift interaction in brittle-ductile coupled systems: a 3D numerical study,
V. Allken, R.S. Huismans, C. Thieulot,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., Volume 13, Number 5, Q05010, doi:10.1029/2012GC004077, 2012

[11] Three dimensional numerical modelling of crustal extension ,
V. Allken, R. Huismans and C. Thieulot,
Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2011JB008319, 2011.

[10] FANTOM : two- and three-dimensional numerical modelling of creeping flows for the solution of geological problems ,
C. Thieulot,
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2011.06.011, 2011.

[9] Subducting slabs: jellyfishes in the Earth's mantle,
Loiselet, C., J. Braun, L. Husson, C. Le Carlier de Veslud, C. Thieulot, P. Yamato, and D. Grujic,
Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 11, Q08016, doi:10.1029/2010GC003172, 2010.

[8] Influence of surrounding plates on 3D subduction dynamics,
P. Yamato, L. Husson, J. Braun, C. Loiselet, and C. Thieulot,
Geophysical Research Letters 36, L07303, doi:10.1029/2008GL036942, 2009.

[7] Adaptive octree-based finite element analysis of two- and three-dimensional indentation problems,
C. Thieulot, P. Fullsack and J. Braun,
Journal of Geophysical Research 113, B12207, doi:10.1029/2008JB005591, 2008.

[6] DOUAR: a new three-dimensional creeping flow model for the solution of geological problems,
J. Braun, C. Thieulot, P. Fullsack, M. DeKool, C. Beaumont and R. Huismans,
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 171, p76-91, 2008.

[5] Non-isothermal diffusion in a binary mixture with smoothed particle hydrodynamics,
C. Thieulot, P. Español,
Computer Physics Communications 169, 172 (2005).

[4] Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics model for phase separating fluid mixtures. I General equations ,
C. Thieulot, P. Español and L.P.B.M.Janssen,
Phys. Rev. E 72, 016713 (2005).

[3] Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics model for phase separating fluid mixtures. II Diffusion in a binary mixture,
C. Thieulot, P. Español and L.P.B.M.Janssen,
Phys. Rev. E 72, 016714 (2005).

[2] Microscopic derivation of hydrodynamic equations for phase separating fluid mixtures,
P. Español and C. Thieulot,
J. Chem. Phys., 118, 9109 (2003).

[1] Simplified models of flue instruments: Influence of mouth geometry on the sound source,
S. Dequand, J. F. H. Willems, M. Leroux, R. Vullings, M. van Weert, C. Thieulot, and A. Hirschberg,
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 113, 1724 (2003), link .

**** In limbo *************************************************

[X] ELEFANT: a user-friendly multipurpose geodynamics code,
C. Thieulot,
Solid Earth Discussions. (2014), link .

Academic background

• June 2015 - ...: Assistant Professor at the University of Utrecht, Department of Earth Sciences, The Netherlands.

• Jan 2012 - June 2015 : Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Utrecht, Department of Earth Sciences, The Netherlands.

• March. 2011 - Dec 2011: Post-doctoral researcher at the Bergen University, Department of Earth Sciences, Norway.

• Jan. 2008 - Jan. 2011 : Post-doctoral researcher at the Bergen University, Department of Earth Sciences, Norway.

• Nov. 2005 - Nov. 2007: Post-doctoral researcher at Géosciences Rennes, Université Rennes1 (France), Dalhousie University, Halifax (Canada).

• Sept. 2004 - Sept. 2005: Assistant researcher at the Groupe Matiere Condensée et Matériaux, Université Rennes1 (France).

• 2004: Thermodynamically consistent fluid particle modelling of phase separating mixtures. Ph.D. Thesis financed by ICOPAC within the European Commission's 5th Framework Improving Human Potential programme. University of Groningen (The Netherlands), University of Madrid (Spain).

• 2000: DEA ATIAM (M.Sc.) : Applying acoustics, signal processing and computer science to music. IRCAM, Paris (France)
  • Subjects : mathematics, signal processing, computer science, room acoustics, music instruments acoustics, psychoacoustics, lectures on music research.

• 1999: Magistère (B.Sc.) in fundamental physics, obtained with honours.University Paris XI, Orsay (France).
  • Subjects of the first year : mathematics, quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical physics, computer science, electronics, astrophysics, practicals, and lectures on general science.
  • Subjects of the second year : atoms and molecules, optics and lasers, fluid mechanics, plasmas, experimental physics, nuclei and particles, condensed matter physics, astrophysics, statistical physics.

• 1997: D.E.U.G. MIAS (Mathematiques et Informatique Appliquees aux Sciences) obtained with honours. University Paris XI, Orsay (France).
  • Subjects of the first and second years: mathematics, computer science, classical mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, acoustics, chemistry.

• 1995: French Baccalaureat, major in physics and mathematics, obtained with honours. Etampes (France).