Buoyancy-driven fluid fracture: similarity solutions for the horizontal and vertical propagation of fluid-filled cracks

Buoyancy-driven flows resulting from the introduction of fluid of one density into a crack embedded in an elastic solid of different density are analysed. The nonlinear equations governing the shape and rate of spread of the propagating crack are formulated for the cases of vertical propagation of luid released at an interface between an upper layer of lesser density and a lower layer of greater density. The theoretical solutions provide simple models for the vertical transport of melt through the Earth's lithosphere and in the lateral intrusion of melt at a neutral-buoyancy level close to the Earth's surface

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