The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany
<p>Seismic hazard during subsurface operations is often related to the reactivation of pre-existing tectonic faults. The analysis of the slip tendency, i.e., the ratio of shear to normal stress acting on the fault plane, allows an assessment of the reactivation potential of faults. We use the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Solid Earth |
| Online Access: | https://se.copernicus.org/articles/13/1087/2022/se-13-1087-2022.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828314102856941568 |
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| author | L. Röckel S. Ahlers B. Müller K. Reiter O. Heidbach O. Heidbach A. Henk T. Hergert F. Schilling |
| author_facet | L. Röckel S. Ahlers B. Müller K. Reiter O. Heidbach O. Heidbach A. Henk T. Hergert F. Schilling |
| author_sort | L. Röckel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Seismic hazard during subsurface operations is often
related to the reactivation of pre-existing tectonic faults. The analysis of
the slip tendency, i.e., the ratio of shear to normal stress acting on the
fault plane, allows an assessment of the reactivation potential of faults.
We use the total stresses that result from a large-scale 3D
geomechanical–numerical model of Germany and adjacent areas to calculate the slip tendency for three 3D fault geometry sets with increasing complexity.
This allows us to draw general conclusions about the influence of the fault
geometry on the reactivation potential.</p>
<p>In general, the fault reactivation potential is higher in Germany for faults
that strike NW–SE and NNE–SSW. Due to the prevailing normal stress regime in
the geomechanical–numerical model results, faults dipping at an angle of
about 60<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span> generally show higher slip tendencies in comparison to
steeper or shallower dipping faults. Faults implemented with a straight
geometry show higher slip tendencies than those represented with a more
complex, uneven geometry. Pore pressure has been assumed to be hydrostatic and
has been shown to have a major influence on the calculated slip tendencies.
Compared to slip tendency values calculated without pore pressure, the
consideration of pore pressure leads to an increase in slip tendency of up
to 50 %. The qualitative comparison of the slip tendency with the
occurrence of seismic events with moment magnitudes <span class="inline-formula"><i>M</i><sub>w</sub><i>></i>3.5</span>
shows areas with an overall good spatial correlation between elevated slip
tendencies and seismic activity but also highlights areas where more
detailed and diverse fault sets would be beneficial.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:39:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5087cc214ef24c1388cf210015b52c0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1869-9510 1869-9529 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:39:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Solid Earth |
| spelling | doaj.art-5087cc214ef24c1388cf210015b52c0f2022-12-22T02:39:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsSolid Earth1869-95101869-95292022-06-01131087110510.5194/se-13-1087-2022The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in GermanyL. Röckel0S. Ahlers1B. Müller2K. Reiter3O. Heidbach4O. Heidbach5A. Henk6T. Hergert7F. Schilling8Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyHelmholtz Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, TU Berlin, 10587 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany<p>Seismic hazard during subsurface operations is often related to the reactivation of pre-existing tectonic faults. The analysis of the slip tendency, i.e., the ratio of shear to normal stress acting on the fault plane, allows an assessment of the reactivation potential of faults. We use the total stresses that result from a large-scale 3D geomechanical–numerical model of Germany and adjacent areas to calculate the slip tendency for three 3D fault geometry sets with increasing complexity. This allows us to draw general conclusions about the influence of the fault geometry on the reactivation potential.</p> <p>In general, the fault reactivation potential is higher in Germany for faults that strike NW–SE and NNE–SSW. Due to the prevailing normal stress regime in the geomechanical–numerical model results, faults dipping at an angle of about 60<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span> generally show higher slip tendencies in comparison to steeper or shallower dipping faults. Faults implemented with a straight geometry show higher slip tendencies than those represented with a more complex, uneven geometry. Pore pressure has been assumed to be hydrostatic and has been shown to have a major influence on the calculated slip tendencies. Compared to slip tendency values calculated without pore pressure, the consideration of pore pressure leads to an increase in slip tendency of up to 50 %. The qualitative comparison of the slip tendency with the occurrence of seismic events with moment magnitudes <span class="inline-formula"><i>M</i><sub>w</sub><i>></i>3.5</span> shows areas with an overall good spatial correlation between elevated slip tendencies and seismic activity but also highlights areas where more detailed and diverse fault sets would be beneficial.</p>https://se.copernicus.org/articles/13/1087/2022/se-13-1087-2022.pdf |
| spellingShingle | L. Röckel S. Ahlers B. Müller K. Reiter O. Heidbach O. Heidbach A. Henk T. Hergert F. Schilling The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany Solid Earth |
| title | The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany |
| title_full | The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany |
| title_fullStr | The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany |
| title_short | The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany |
| title_sort | analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in germany |
| url | https://se.copernicus.org/articles/13/1087/2022/se-13-1087-2022.pdf |
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