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The shape distribution of splash-form tektites predicted by numerical simulations of rotating fluid drops

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2011

S. L. BUTLER ,
M. R. STAUFFER ,
G. SINHA ,
A. LILLY  and
R. J. SPITERI
S. L. BUTLER*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
M. R. STAUFFER
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
G. SINHA
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
A. LILLY
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
R. J. SPITERI
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
*
†Email address for correspondence: sam.butler@usask.ca
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Abstract

Splash-form tektites are glassy rocks ranging in size from roughly 1 to 100 mm that are believed to have formed from the splash of silicate liquid after a large terrestrial impact from which they are strewn over thousands of kilometres. They are found in an array of shapes including spheres, oblate ellipsoids, dumbbells, rods and possibly fragments of tori. It has recently become appreciated that surface tension and centrifugal forces associated with the rotation of fluid droplets are the main factors determining the shapes of these tektites. In this contribution, we compare the shape distribution of 1163 measured splash-form tektites with the results of the time evolution of a 3D numerical model of a rotating fluid drop with surface tension. We demonstrate that many aspects of the measured shape distribution can be explained by the results of the dynamical model.

JFM classification

Drops and Bubbles: Drops Geophysical and Geological Flows: Geophysical and Geological Flows Geophysical and Geological Flows: Magma and lava flow
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 667 , 25 January 2011 , pp. 358 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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References

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