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| | Centrifuge |
 | | By this means the stress distribution in a model, arising from both body and surface forces, is scaled to that in the natural prototype, and in consequence the model structures evolve kinematically in the same way as their natural prototypes. |
 | | The 20,000-g centrifuge at the Experimental Tectonics Laboratory at Queen's University and details of the experimental technique have been presented elsewhere along with previous results from our investigations of fold-thrust tectonics (Dixon and Summers 1985; Dixon and Tirrul 1991; Dixon and Liu 1992; Liu 1990; Liu and Dixon 1990, 1991, 1995; Dixon, 1995, 1996). |
 | | Each model is subjected to horizontal compression from one end by a "hinterland wedge" of Plasticine which begins to undergo gravitational collapse and lateral spreading while the acceleration in the centrifuge is climbing from about 2500 g to the set level of 4000 g. |
| www.geo.ucalgary.ca /frp/techlab/centrifuge.htm (764 words) |
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