Numerical study of continental collision: influence of buoyancy forces and an initial stiff inclusion

Although deformation is three-dimensional in nature, a plate thickness of the order of 100 km permits a 2-D approach for wavelengths longer than a few hundred kilometres. We assume an Airy compensation at the crust-mantle boundary throughout the deformation. We can then reduce the problem to a 2-D one within the context of thin plate theory. This model makes it possible to study crustal thickening during collisions.