Numerical simulations of microstructures using the Elle platform: A modern research and teaching tool

The last 20 years have seen a manifold increase in the application of numerical simulations in the earth sciences. This contribution aims to provide an overview of the possibilities of using numerical techniques, in particular the numerical simulation package Elle, as an aid in the training for microstructural interpretation in rocks. Three sets of experiments are described to illustrate the range of simulations currently possible, investigating the effects of grain growth, polyphase deformation and dynamic recrystallisation. Numerical simulations of static annealing of a pre-deformed natural sample show that Crystallographic Preferred Orientations can still be used for the interpretation of kinematic and deformation conditions, even after substantial postdeformational annealing. However, the grain network characteristics such as grain size, grain size distribution, boundary shapes and aspect ratios are rapidly altered during annealing, especially if the grains possessed highly contrasting internal strain energies.