Active fault zones and groundwater flow

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

9

Hydrology: Groundwater Transport, Seismology: Earthquake Dynamics And Mechanics, Structural Geology: Fractures And Faults, Structural Geology: Role Of Fluids

Scientific paper

Boundary-element studies of an active strike-slip fault zone subject to fault-parallel loading of 6 MPa show tensile stress concentration in large areas around the fault-zone tips. In these areas, tensile stress exceeds typical in situ tensile strengths of rocks, resulting in the formation or reactivation of tensile fractures. These fractures curve toward the tips of the fault zone, and if interconnected they increase the rock permeability. Fault slip also increases the temporary permeability of the fault zone, by as much as many orders of a magnitude. Its effects on the surrounding groundwater flow, however, is normally small if the fault trends at a high angle to the groundwater flow but gradually increases as the angle between the flow and the fault decreases. When the trend of the fault zone and the groundwater flow coincide, the upstream part collects groundwater whereas the downstream part expels it. It follows that the yield of springs decreases in the upstream part, but increases in the downstream part.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Active fault zones and groundwater flow does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Active fault zones and groundwater flow, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Active fault zones and groundwater flow will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1385843

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.