scholarly journals From coseismic offsets to fault-block mountains

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. 9820-9825 ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Thompson ◽  
Tom Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Upper Mantle ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Large Earthquake ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Coseismic Deformation ◽  
Finite Element Models ◽  
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽  
Normal Faulting ◽  
Gravitational Forces ◽  
Fault Block

In the Basin and Range extensional province of the western United States, coseismic offsets, under the influence of gravity, display predominantly subsidence of the basin side (fault hanging wall), with comparatively little or no uplift of the mountainside (fault footwall). A few decades later, geodetic measurements [GPS and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)] show broad (∼100 km) aseismic uplift symmetrically spanning the fault zone. Finally, after millions of years and hundreds of fault offsets, the mountain blocks display large uplift and tilting over a breadth of only about 10 km. These sparse but robust observations pose a problem in that the coesismic uplifts of the footwall are small and inadequate to raise the mountain blocks. To address this paradox we develop finite-element models subjected to extensional and gravitational forces to study time-varying deformation associated with normal faulting. Stretching the model under gravity demonstrates that asymmetric slip via collapse of the hanging wall is a natural consequence of coseismic deformation. Focused flow in the upper mantle imposed by deformation of the lower crust localizes uplift, which is predicted to take place within one to two decades after each large earthquake. Thus, the best-preserved topographic signature of earthquakes is expected to occur early in the postseismic period.

Loading transfer mechanism of a piled raft subjected to normal faulting in sand

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Q. Cai ◽  
B. Xiang ◽  
C. W. W. Ng ◽  
K. S. Wong ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pile Group ◽  
Transfer Mechanism ◽  
Centrifuge Test ◽  
Fault Rupture ◽  
Normal Faulting ◽  
Compression Failure ◽  
Piled Raft

Although different kinds of foundations have been investigated against an earthquake faulting, the interaction between pile group and dip-slip fault has not yet been fully understood. This letter investigates the interaction between piled raft and normal faulting by means of centrifuge and numerical modelling. In centrifuge test, a piled raft was simulated with a half model for a better observation of fault rupture path under the raft. The loading transfer mechanism was further examined using a three-dimensional finite difference software (FLAC3D). The measured and computed results showed that the piled raft displaced and tilted linearly with the magnitude of faulting. The fault rupture bifurcated into two and diverted towards both edges of the raft. Two types of loading transfer mechanism were identified during faulting. Working load transferred from the raft to the underneath piles, and also from the piles on the side of the hanging wall to the piles on the footwall side, resulting in compression failure of the piles on the footwall side.

Validation of Coupled FDM-DEM Approach on the Soil-Raft Foundation Interaction Subjected to Normal Faulting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Ru-Ya ◽  
Lin Cheng-Han ◽  
Lin Ming-Lang
Keyword(s):  
Active Fault ◽  
Ground Deformation ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Foot Wall ◽  
Normal Faulting ◽  
Raft Foundation ◽  
Overburden Soil

<p>Recent earthquake events have shown that besides the strong ground motions, the coseismic faulting often caused substantial ground deformation and destructions of near-fault structures. In Taiwan, many high-rise buildings with raft foundation are close to the active fault due to the dense population. The Shanchiao Fault, which is a famous active fault, is the potentially dangerous normal fault to the capital of Taiwan (Taipei). This study aims to use coupled FDM-DEM approach for parametrically analyzing the soil-raft foundation interaction subjected to normal faulting. The coupled FDM-DEM approach includes two numerical frameworks: the DEM-based model to capture the deformation behavior of overburden soil, and the FDM-based model to investigate the responses of raft foundation. The analytical approach was first verified by three  benchmark cases and theoretical solutions. After the verification, a series of small-scale sandbox model was used to validate the performance of the coupled FDM-DEM model in simulating deformation behaviors of overburden soil and structure elements. The full-scale numerical models were then built to understand the effects of relative location between the fault tip and foundation in the normal fault-soil-raft foundation behavior. Preliminary results show that the raft foundation located above the fault tip suffered to greater displacement, rotation, and inclination due to the intense deformation of the triangular shear zone in the overburden soil. The raft foundation also exhibited distortion during faulting. Based on the results, we suggest different adaptive strategies for the raft foundation located on foot wall and hanging wall if the buildings are necessary to be constructed within the active fault zone. It is the first time that the coupled FDM-DEM approach has been carefully validated and applied to study the normal fault-soil-raft foundation problems. The novel numerical framework is expected to contribute to design aids in future practical engineering.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Coupled FDM-DEM approach; normal faulting; ground deformation; soil-foundation interaction; raft foundation.</p>

scholarly journals The 2014 Mw 6.1 Ludian Earthquake: The Application of RADARSAT-2 SAR Interferometry and GPS for this Conjugated Ruptured Event

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Yufen Niu ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Wu Zhu ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Zhong Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Main Shock ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Large Earthquake ◽  
Failure Stress ◽  
Sar Interferometry ◽  
Coseismic Deformation ◽  
Coulomb Failure Stress ◽  
Ludian Earthquake ◽  
Stress Changes ◽  
Coulomb Failure

Although the Zhaotong–Ludian fault is a seismically active zone located in the boundary between the Sichuan–Yunnan block and the South China block, it has not experienced a large earthquake greater than Mw 7 since at least 1700. On 3 August, 2014, an Mw 6.1 earthquake (the Ludian earthquake) ruptured the Zhaotong active belt in Ludian County, Yunnan province, China. This earthquake was the largest earthquake recorded in the region since 2000, and it provides us with a unique opportunity to study the active tectonics in the region. The analysis of the aftershocks showed that two conjugate faults could have been involved in the event. We first used Global Positioning System (GPS) data and C-band RADARSAT-2 imagery to map the coseismic surface deformation. We then inverted the derived coseismic deformation for the slip distribution based on the constructed conjugate fault model. Finally, the coulomb failure stress due to the Ludian earthquake was estimated to investigate the potential seismic hazards in this region. Our investigations showed that the Ludian earthquake was mainly a bilateral rupture event. The major slip of the main shock was located at depths of 0–5 km, which is close but does not superpose with the aftershocks that are mostly located at depths of 5–20 km. Interestingly, the seismic moment released by the aftershocks (6.9 × 1018 N∙m) was greater than that of the main shock (2.6 × 1018 N∙m). This evidence suggests that the accumulated elastic strain at depths of 0–20 km could have been fully released by the Ludian earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks. Furthermore, our analysis of the coulomb failure stress changes due to the main shock showed that the aftershocks could be the result of dynamic triggering rather than static triggering.

scholarly journals Coseismic Deformation Field of the Mw 7.3 12 November 2017 Sarpol-e Zahab (Iran) Earthquake: A Decoupling Horizon in the Northern Zagros Mountains Inferred from InSAR Observations

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaz Vajedian ◽  
Mahdi Motagh ◽  
Zahra Mousavi ◽  
Khalil Motaghi ◽  
Eric. Fielding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Lateral Spreading ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Coseismic Deformation ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Zagros Mountains ◽  
Tectonically Active ◽  
Northern Portion ◽  
Progressive Scan

The study of crustal deformation fields caused by earthquakes is important for a better understanding of seismic hazard and growth of geological structures in tectonically active areas. In this study, we present, using interferometric measurements constructed from Sentinel-1 Terrain Observation with Progressive Scan (TOPS) data and ALOS-2 ScanSAR, coseismic deformation and source model of the Mw 7.3, 12 November 2017 earthquake that hit northwest of the Zagros Mountains in the region between Iran–Iraq border. This was one of the strongest seismic events to hit this region in the past century, and it resulted in an uplift area of about 3500 km2 between the High Zagros Fault (HZF) and Mountain Front Fault (MFF) with a maximum amount of 70 cm south of Miringe fault. A subsidence over an area of 1200 km2 with a maximum amount of 35 cm occurred near Vanisar village at the hanging wall of the HZF. Bayesian inversion of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) observations suggests a source model at a depth between 14 and 20 km that is consistent with the existence of a decoupling horizon southwest edge of the northern portion of the Zagros Mountains near the MFF. Moreover, we present evidence for a number of coseismically induced rockslides and landslides, the majority of them which occurred along or close to pre-existing faults, causing decorrelation in differential interferograms. Exploiting the offset-tracking technique, we estimated surface motion by up to 34 and 10 m in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, due to lateral spreading on a big coseismic-induced landslide near Mela-Kabod. Field observations also revealed several zones of en echelon fractures and crack zones developed along a pre-existing fault passing through Qasr-e Shirin City, which exhibited secondary surface slip by up to 14 cm along its strike.

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