Geomechanical modeling of an extensional fault-propagation fold: Big Brushy Canyon monocline, Sierra Del Carmen, Texas

Smart, Kevin J.; Ferrill, David A.; Morris, Alan P.; Bichon, Barron J.; Riha, David S.; Huyse, Luc

doi:10.1306/08050908169

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Most of the limestones and sandstones are consistent with this behavior, but clayey rocks may have a much more complex rheology. Plastic intragranular flows may precede the macroscopic failure during the load and a folding near the fault tips may precede the propagation of the fault [Ferrill et al, 2005;Van der Zee et al, 2008;Smart et al, 2010;Roche et al, 2012b]. The folding may be confined within the clayey layer [Roche et al, 2012b], but it may affect several layers including limestone or sandstone layers [Ferrill et al, 2005;Van der Zee et al, 2008], and fractures associated with this folding will introduce additional heterogeneities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fault nucleation, restriction, and aspect ratio in layered sections: Quantification of the strength and stiffness roles using numerical modeling

Roche

Homberg²,

Rocher

2013

JGR Solid Earth

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[1] 3D numerical modeling has been used to investigate how the variations of mechanical properties in sedimentary layered sections affect the development of normal faults. We calculated the distribution of the Coulomb stress to assess the proximity of the layers to failure through an elastic layered section. The simulation of various combinations of rock properties allowed us to compare the effect of the stiffness and strength contrasts, which promote or inhibit faulting in the stiff layer, respectively. For rock systems showing little variation in strength, nucleation of the fault occurs in the stiff layer (e.g., limestones or sandstones), whereas it occurs in the compliant layer (e.g., clay-rich rocks) if the stiff layer has a high cohesion. Considering a mean strength profile of the carbonate sequences, nucleation occurs in limestones if the ratio of Young's moduli between the limestone and clay-rich rock is greater than 2; otherwise, clay-rich layers fail first. We also showed that nucleation is promoted in sandstones or limestones if these layers are thinner than the clayey layers. In a second set of simulation, using a slip on a fault, we examined the conditions needed to overcome the restriction of the fault propagation. Our results suggest that the lateral propagation of the fault, within a layer, produces increasingly favorable conditions for vertical propagation. A maximum aspect ratio of width to height of 13 is predicted for faults in limestone-clay sequences, and this maximum aspect ratio is expected to decrease as the contrast in the rock properties decreases.Citation: Roche, V., C. Homberg, and M. Rocher (2013), Fault nucleation, restriction, and aspect ratio in layered sections: Quantification of the strength and stiffness roles using numerical modeling,

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fault nucleation, restriction, and aspect ratio in layered sections: Quantification of the strength and stiffness roles using numerical modeling

Roche

Homberg²,

Rocher

2013

JGR Solid Earth

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“…6), defi nes a parallel fold profi le (Ramsay, 1967). In strongly layered material, such folding is strongly infl uenced by the mechanical anisotropy of the layering (Davis and Reynolds, 1996;Ramsay, 1967;Smart et al, 2010;Twiss and Moores, 1992). The most common deformation mechanisms associated with parallel folds are fl exural-slip folding, layer-parallel slip on discrete surfaces between competent layers, and fl exural-fl ow folding, layer-parallel simple shear within less competent layers.…”

Section: Folding Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subvolcanic subsidence and caldera formation during subaerial seafloor spreading in Iceland

Siler

Karson

2012

Geological Society of America Bulletin

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“…Cooke and Pollard, 1997;Cooke et al, 2001;Peacock, 2002;Hayano and Ishii, 2016), previous research has failed to produce a systematic analysis on the role of mechanical layering on fault tip propagation. Therefore, building upon previous geomechanical modeling techniques (Smart et al, 2004(Smart et al, , 2009(Smart et al, , 2010b(Smart et al, , 2010a(Smart et al, , 2012Doff, 2015;Sattari and Eaton, 2015), I…”

Section: Warrant Thatmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Systèmes' ABAQUS software (e.g. Smart et al, 2012;Doff, 2015;Sattari and Eaton, 2015), which is appropriate for geomechanical modeling on various scales in both 2D and 3D (Smart et al, 2004(Smart et al, , 2009(Smart et al, , 2010a(Smart et al, , 2010b(Smart et al, , 2012. Furthermore, ABAQUS includes Lagrangian mechanics (i.e., it can model output variables in any specified location throughout the model) and the ability to handle non-linear mathematical modeling, it is well suited to model high strain values as well as large displacements along frictional contacts (Smart et al, 2012).…”

Section: Previous Researchers Modeling Of Faulting and Folding Mechanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomechanical Analysis of Sedimentary Layering as a Structural Control on Fault Propagation

Segarra¹

2019

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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From my initial outings with Dr. Surpless and the other Keck participants, to thorough discussions about the finer points of geomechanical modeling with Dr. Smart, all the way through the final reading by Dr. Kroeger, this project has taught me countless skills that have not only resulted in the production of this work, but have set me on a path towards never-ending scientific inquiry. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

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Geomechanical modeling of an extensional fault-propagation fold: Big Brushy Canyon monocline, Sierra Del Carmen, Texas

Cited by 29 publications

References 23 publications

Fault nucleation, restriction, and aspect ratio in layered sections: Quantification of the strength and stiffness roles using numerical modeling

Fault nucleation, restriction, and aspect ratio in layered sections: Quantification of the strength and stiffness roles using numerical modeling

Subvolcanic subsidence and caldera formation during subaerial seafloor spreading in Iceland

Geomechanical Analysis of Sedimentary Layering as a Structural Control on Fault Propagation

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