Viscosity of rock-ice mixtures and applications to the evolution of icy satellites

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

63

Icy Satellites, Natural Satellites, Particle Size Distribution, Planetary Evolution, Satellite Surfaces, Solid Suspensions, Viscosity, Free Convection, Heat Transmission, Ice, Latent Heat, Rheology, Rocks, Silicates, Planets, Satellites, Icy Bodies, Ice, Viscosity, Evolution, Ratios, Theoretical Studies, Experiments, Particles, Matrix, Size, Distribution, Convection, Silicate, Jupiter, Ganymede, Callisto, Hydration, Interior, Heat, Radioisotopes, Melting, Differentiation, Cores, Mantle, Energy, Gravity Effe

Scientific paper

Theory and experiments are used to establish lower and upper bounds on the ratio of actual viscosity to pure ice viscosity for a suspension of rock particles in a water ice matrix. A rheological model for rock-ice mixtures is described, establishing bounds for the range of possible viscosity enhancements provided by a suspension of silicate spheres in an ice matrix. A parametrized thermal convection model is described and used to determine a criterion for criticality, defined as the heat flow and/or silicate volume fraction for which the satellite temperature profile intercepts the melting curve of water ice. The consequences of achieving this critical state are examined, and it is shown that under certain circumstances a 'runaway' differentiation can occur in which the silicates settle to form a core and extensive melting of water ice takes place, the latent heat being supplied by the gravitational energy of differentiation. A possible application of these results to Ganymede and Callisto is described.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Viscosity of rock-ice mixtures and applications to the evolution of icy satellites does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Viscosity of rock-ice mixtures and applications to the evolution of icy satellites, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Viscosity of rock-ice mixtures and applications to the evolution of icy satellites will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1193554

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.