Print Email Facebook Twitter Mars Surface Stress Modelling Title Mars Surface Stress Modelling: Investigation on the crustal structure of Mars with Finite Element Method Author Qin, WeiLun (TU Delft Aerospace Engineering) Contributor Root, B.C. (mentor) Degree granting institution Delft University of Technology Programme Aerospace Engineering Date 2021-08-23 Abstract Mars has been a target for space exploration for decades. Exploring the interior of the red planet could reveal information about its formation and evolution. In this thesis, the crustal structure of Mars is investigated by a power spectra analysis of both topographic and gravitational data. With models of flexural isostasy, the best-fitting lithospheric (crust + uppermost mantle) thickness is found to be between 136 km and 158 km globally. Possible values for the thickness of the lithosphere range from 120 km to 580 km. In addition, a 3D flat Finite Element Method (FEM) model is created for Mars. The FEM Mars model incorporates the above-mentioned crustal profiles and calculates the surface stresses in the regions of interest. The calculated stresses are compared to observed faults in Tharsis, Hellas, and Utopia to reveal information about the evolution of these regions. Subject MarsFEMStress AnalysisIsostasy To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:74eb3038-2de4-44b9-bac7-07d94becd48e Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights © 2021 WeiLun Qin Files PDF MSc_Thesis_Weilun_Qin_4931653.pdf 48.66 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:74eb3038-2de4-44b9-bac7-07d94becd48e/datastream/OBJ/view