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Numerical modelling of a nonplanar strike slip fault and associated stress distribution in lithosphere asthenosphere system

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Abstract

In seismology, the nature of ground deformation in seismically active regions in between two major seismic events has an immense connection with fault movement and other ground damages in those regions. So, understanding of geophysical stress accumulation scenario in this aseismic period and its effects on the faults is a very important aspect for figuring out which faults are most likely to generate further fault movement in future. A computational method during quasi-static, aseismic period in the presence of a strike slip fault and associated fault movement is explained here. A long, surface breaking, non planar strike slip fault is taken to be situated in linearly viscoelastic half space representing the lithosphere asthenosphere system and fault geometry is complex in nature comprising of four interconnected planar parts. Due to some tectonic processes stress accumulates in the vicinity of the fault zone in the aseismic period. Tectonic processes and flow in the Earth’s interior drive deformation of the Earth’s surface that can lead to destructive fault movement when the accumulated stress exceeds the frictional and cohesive forces across the fault. The problem ultimately reduces to a two-dimensional boundary value problem with some discontinuity across the fault plane. The resulting problem is solved with the help of numerical technique, developed for the purpose, based on finite difference scheme. All the results have been depicted graphically with appropriate model parameters. Computational outcomes reveal that fault movement and fault geometry have a significant effect on the stress, strain and displacement components in the localized area of the fault plane.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to convey my sincere gratitude and thanks to the faculty members of the Department of Applied Mathematics of University of Calcutta for their valuable suggestions which help me in formulating the mathematical model and I come to know about so many new things on mathematical modelling. I would also like to extend my thanks to the faculty members of the Computer Laboratory and Library of the Department of Applied Mathematics of the University of Calcutta for their cooperation and support at every stage of preparing this research article. I would like to express my special thanks to Professor Supriyo Mitra, Department of Earth Sciences, IISER, Kolkata for his valuable recommendation which becomes more helpful to conclude different geophysical aspects related to this article.

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  1. Department of Mathematics, P.K.H.N.Mahavidyalaya, Kanpur, Howrah, West Bengal, 711410, India

    Subhash Chandra Mondal

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700009, India

    Suma Debsarma

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Mondal, S.C., Debsarma, S. Numerical modelling of a nonplanar strike slip fault and associated stress distribution in lithosphere asthenosphere system. Int J Geomath 14, 15 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13137-023-00222-z

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