Page 224 - Fundamentals of Computational Geoscience Numerical Methods and Algorithms

8.4 Test and Application Examples of the Particle Simulation Method 215

(10.8% shortening)

(18.0% shortening)

(25.2% shortening)

(32.4% shortening)

(39.6% shortening)
Fig. 8.18 Evolution of the folding process of a stiffer middle layer embedded by softer upper and
lower layers (The meter-scale model)

regions. This implies that if the four similar criteria of the proposed upscale theory
are satisfied, it is possible to use the mechanical response of a small length-scale
model such as a laboratory length-scale model to investigate the potential mechani-
cal response of a large length-scale model such as a geological length-scale model.
From this point of view, the proposed upscale theory of the particle simulation pro-
vides a useful bridge between the simulation results obtained from any two similar
particle models of different length-scales.