Fig. 3
From: A possible mechanism for spontaneous cyclic back-arc spreading
Result for case 1 (Atr = 100 Ma, σyield = 200 MPa and ϕAL = 0.1). a–g Time evolution of slab geometry. Insets show enlargements of the arc area (shown by a square). The distribution of effective viscosity is indicated by different colors and arrows indicate the velocity field. HB = ‘heal’ of buckled slab, BF = buckled falling slab. h Upper panel shows change in velocities of the subducting plate (Vsp), the overriding plate (Vop) and the trench (Vtr), in addition to the average dip angle of the slab surface (Dip) measured in the depth range 200–300 km. Arrows a-g correspond to the time for Fig. 3a–g. Lower panel shows the change in the maximum (Max), minimum (Min) and average (Ave) values of horizontal stress in the arc area (50 km width and 30 km depth). A positive value indicates tensional stress. Arrows correspond to the time shown in Fig. 3i. i Distribution of horizontal stress (σxx) in the lithosphere