Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test
Pumping-induced normal fault reactivation and the resultant ground fracture have been observed in faulted basins worldwide, but the process and mechanism are poorly understood thus far. In this study, we conducted centrifuge model tests to investigate and analyze these issues. Two simplified faulted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1289568/full |
| _version_ | 1797648474006618112 |
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| author | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Bin Li Bin Li Yang Gao Yang Gao Chengxuan Tan Chengxuan Tan Zhuang Li |
| author_facet | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Bin Li Bin Li Yang Gao Yang Gao Chengxuan Tan Chengxuan Tan Zhuang Li |
| author_sort | Jiawei Wan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pumping-induced normal fault reactivation and the resultant ground fracture have been observed in faulted basins worldwide, but the process and mechanism are poorly understood thus far. In this study, we conducted centrifuge model tests to investigate and analyze these issues. Two simplified faulted models, Models 1 and 2, were developed based on an actual event that occurred in the Beijing Plain, China. Our model tests reproduced the pumping-induced normal fault reactivation, characterized by localized hanging wall subsidence with new fault scarp formation in the models. The monitoring results showed that water table decline drastically accelerated uneven subsidence. Although the deformation pattern did not respond to variations in the material properties of the hanging wall and footwall, the magnitude of the reactivated normal faulting was influenced. The maximum vertical offset in Model 2 was much larger than that in Model 1 due to a larger compression modulus in the hanging wall and footwall in Model 2. Furthermore, the reactivation mechanism was revealed based on Anderson’s faulting theory. Normal faulting occurs once the maximum principal stress becomes vertical and the intermediate and minimum principal stresses become horizontal. Groundwater pumping increases the effective stress, leading to the addition of vertical stress and the resultant normal fault reactivation. Our findings provide a better understanding of human interactions with the Earth’s surface and are helpful for mitigating faulting-caused disasters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:32:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eecadea40cae4d1bbc88f25e3006bac9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:32:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-eecadea40cae4d1bbc88f25e3006bac92023-10-27T03:42:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632023-10-011110.3389/feart.2023.12895681289568Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model testJiawei Wan0Jiawei Wan1Bin Li2Bin Li3Yang Gao4Yang Gao5Chengxuan Tan6Chengxuan Tan7Zhuang Li8Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an, ChinaPumping-induced normal fault reactivation and the resultant ground fracture have been observed in faulted basins worldwide, but the process and mechanism are poorly understood thus far. In this study, we conducted centrifuge model tests to investigate and analyze these issues. Two simplified faulted models, Models 1 and 2, were developed based on an actual event that occurred in the Beijing Plain, China. Our model tests reproduced the pumping-induced normal fault reactivation, characterized by localized hanging wall subsidence with new fault scarp formation in the models. The monitoring results showed that water table decline drastically accelerated uneven subsidence. Although the deformation pattern did not respond to variations in the material properties of the hanging wall and footwall, the magnitude of the reactivated normal faulting was influenced. The maximum vertical offset in Model 2 was much larger than that in Model 1 due to a larger compression modulus in the hanging wall and footwall in Model 2. Furthermore, the reactivation mechanism was revealed based on Anderson’s faulting theory. Normal faulting occurs once the maximum principal stress becomes vertical and the intermediate and minimum principal stresses become horizontal. Groundwater pumping increases the effective stress, leading to the addition of vertical stress and the resultant normal fault reactivation. Our findings provide a better understanding of human interactions with the Earth’s surface and are helpful for mitigating faulting-caused disasters.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1289568/fullgroundwater pumpingfault reactivationpre-existing normal faultcentrifuge model testdeformationground fracture |
| spellingShingle | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Bin Li Bin Li Yang Gao Yang Gao Chengxuan Tan Chengxuan Tan Zhuang Li Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test Frontiers in Earth Science groundwater pumping fault reactivation pre-existing normal fault centrifuge model test deformation ground fracture |
| title | Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test |
| title_full | Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test |
| title_fullStr | Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test |
| title_short | Pumping-induced reactivation of a pre-existing normal fault: insights from a centrifuge model test |
| title_sort | pumping induced reactivation of a pre existing normal fault insights from a centrifuge model test |
| topic | groundwater pumping fault reactivation pre-existing normal fault centrifuge model test deformation ground fracture |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1289568/full |
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