Objective The initial conditions of the Earth and other terrestrial planets were set 4.5 Gy ago during their accretion from the solar nebula and their concomitant differentiation into an iron-rich core and a silicate mantle. Accretion in the solar system went through several different dynamical phases involving increasingly energetic and catastrophic impacts and collisions. The last phase of accretion, in which most of the Earth mass was accreted, involved extremely energetic collisions between already differentiated planetary embryos (1000 km size), which resulted in widespread melting and the formation of magma oceans in which metal and silicates segregated to form the core and mantle. Geochemical data provide critical information on the timing of accretion and the prevailing physical conditions, but it is far from a trivial task to interpret the geochemical data in terms of physical conditions and processes. I propose here a fluid dynamics oriented study of metal-silicate interactions and differentiation following planetary impacts, based in part on fluid dynamics laboratory experiments. The aim is to answer critical questions pertaining to the dynamics of metal-silicate segregation and interactions during each core-formation events, before developing parameterized models of metal-silicate mass and heat exchange, which will then be incorporated in geochemical models of the terrestrial planets formation and differentiation. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of the physics of metal-silicate segregation and core-mantle differentiation, as well as improved geochemical constraints on the timing and physical conditions of the terrestrial planets formation. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrynatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicstopologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid dynamicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanetsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryology Keywords SEIC Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITE LYON 1 CLAUDE BERNARD Net EU contribution € 866 045,00 Address BOULEVARD DU 11 NOVEMBRE 1918 NUM43 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex France See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Rhône Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 866 045,00 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITE LYON 1 CLAUDE BERNARD France Net EU contribution € 866 045,00 Address BOULEVARD DU 11 NOVEMBRE 1918 NUM43 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Rhône Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 866 045,00 UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES France Net EU contribution € 392 705,00 Address 621 AVENUE CENTRALE 38058 Grenoble See on map Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Isère Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 392 705,00
