FINITE-ELEMENT MODELING OF FRACTURE DENSITY IN SINGLE LAYER FOLDS Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • AbstractThe present study is a continuation of the numerical modelling of geologic structures by the authors (see J. N. Reddy et al., Finiteelement modelling of folding and faulting, this journal). The present paper is concerned with the computation of the stress and fracture density distributions in single layer folds by the finiteelement method. It was found that variations in fracture patterns are related to several variables: (i) the viscosity of the competent layer, (ii) the ratio of the viscosity of the competent layer to the viscosity of the matrix, (iii) the cohesive strength of the material, and (iv) the boundary velocities during deformation. The fracture prediction is based on the MohrCoulomb criterion, which is a function of the stresses only. Prediction of fracture density is based on a function of the strain energy. It is found that there is a good correlation between the computer predicted fractures and the fracture pattern produced by the expermental buckiing of rockbeams. Itis, concluded that the viscosity ratio controls the location of fractures in single layer folds.

published proceedings

  • INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS

author list (cited authors)

  • WICKHAM, J. S., TAPP, G. S., & REDDY, J. N.

citation count

  • 5

complete list of authors

  • WICKHAM, JS||TAPP, GS||REDDY, JN

publication date

  • October 1982

publisher