Secondary Faulting: I. Theoretical Aspects

Abstract

The results of two previous papers by Chinnery published in 1963 and 1964 are used to calculate the distribution of stress that is present after the formation of a strike-slip fault. The pattern obtained shows that although the initial stress is reduced over most of the length of the fault, there are strong concentrations of shear stress near the ends. It is therefore suggested that secondary faulting is due to these end effects, and patterns of likely modes of secondary faulting are shown. The geological implications of these results are discussed in another paper, on the geological aspects of Secondary faulting.

The nucleation and evolution of Riedel shear zones as deformation bands in porous sandstone

“…For example, faults may exhibit local stress field perturbations, especially near their tips (e.g. Chinnery 1966, Segall & Pollard 1980, Gamond 1983, which has been reflected experimentally as changing deformational styles along fault and crack tips (e.g. Mandl et al 1977, Olson & Pollard 1991.…”

Primary and secondary faulting in the Najd fault system, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…These arrays are found irregularly throughout the Najd system but are most noticeable in massive country rocks. Chinnery (1966) suggested that dissipation of anomalous stress concentrations around the terminations of shears could be achieved by propagation of the master fault along divergent splay faults, or by creation of arrays of secondary fractures. Both these mechanisms are thought to have operated on the faults that traverse the Ad Dawadami district (fig.…”

A search into the faulting mechanism of the 1891 great Nobi earthquake.

“…The rupture propagation was probably blocked at point c by lateral heterogeneities or possibly by other intersecting geological faults. Large stresses concentrated around there (CHINNERY, 1966) would have caused branching of the rupture into two faults, where fault displacements abruptly decreased due to the divergence of the concentrated energies. The Nobi earthquake may be regarded as a consequence of the faulting motion of pre-existing Quaternary faults in the Nobi region.…”