Finite element simulation for elastic dislocation of the North-Tehran fault: The effects of geologic layering and slip distribution for the segment located in Karaj

Abstract

The present study uses the finite element method for simulating the crustal deformation due to the dislocation of a segment of the North-Tehran fault located in the Karaj metropolis region. In this regard, a geological map of Karaj that includes the fault segment is utilized in order to create the geometry of finite element model. First, finite element analysis of homogeneous counterpart of the fault’s domain with two different sections was performed, and the results were compared to those of Okada’s analytical solutions. The fault was modeled with the existing heterogeneity of the domain having been considered. The influences of both uniform and non-uniform slip distributions were investigated. Furthermore, three levels of simplification for geometric creation of geological layers’ boundaries were defined in order to evaluate the effects of the geometric complexity of the geological layering on the displacement responses obtained with the finite element simulations. In addition to the assessment of slip distribution, layering complexity and heterogeneity, the results demonstrate both the capability and usefulness of the proposed models in the dislocation analysis for the Karaj segment of North-Tehran fault.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

finite element method / fault dislocation / slip distribution / the North-Tehran fault / heterogeneity / geological layering

References

[1] Sabagh M, Ghalandarzadeh A. Centrifuge experiments for shallow tunnels at active reverse fault intersection. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2020, 14( 3): 731–745

[2] Izadi M, Bargi K. Improvement of mechanical behavior of buried pipelines subjected to strike-slip faulting using textured pipeline. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2019, 13( 5): 1105–1119

[3] IgelH. Computational Seismology: A Practical Introduction. Oxford: OUP Oxford, 2016

[4] Fichera G. The Italian contribution to the mathematical theory of elasticity. Meccanica, 1984, 19( 4): 259–268

[5] Okada Y. Surface deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1985, 75( 4): 1135–1154

[6] Okada Y. Internal deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1992, 82( 2): 1018–1040

[7] van Zwieten G J, Hanssen R F, Gutiérrez M A. Overview of a range of solution methods for elastic dislocation problems in geophysics. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 2013, 118( 4): 1721–1732

[8] Zakian P. An efficient stochastic dynamic analysis of soil media using radial basis function artificial neural network. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2017, 11( 4): 470–479

[9] Ranjbarnia M, Zaheri M, Dias D. Three-dimensional finite difference analysis of shallow sprayed concrete tunnels crossing a reverse fault or a normal fault: A parametric study. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 2020, 14( 4): 998–1011

[10] Megna A, Barba S, Santini S. Normal-fault stress and displacement through finite-element analysis. Annals of Geophysics, 2005, 48( 6): 1009–1016

[11] Megna A, Barba S, Santini S, Dragoni M. Effects of geological complexities on coseismic displacement: Hints from 2D numerical modelling. Terra Nova, 2008, 20( 3): 173–179

[12] van Zwieten G J, van Brummelen E H, van der Zee K G, Gutiérrez M A, Hanssen R F. Discontinuities without discontinuity: The weakly-enforced slip method. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2014, 271 : 144–166

[13] Zakian P, Khaji N. Spectral finite element simulation of seismic wave propagation and fault dislocation in elastic media. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 2016, 17( 8): 1189–1213

[14] Zakian P, Khaji N. A stochastic spectral finite element method for solution of faulting-induced wave propagation in materially random continua without explicitly modeled discontinuities. Computational Mechanics, 2019, 64( 4): 1017–1048

[15] Zhou S, Zhuang X, Zhu H, Rabczuk T. Phase field modelling of crack propagation, branching and coalescence in rocks. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 2018, 96 : 174–192

[16] Zhang Y, Zhuang X. Cracking elements: A self-propagating strong discontinuity embedded approach for quasi-brittle fracture. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 2018, 144 : 84–100

[17] Zhang Y, Zhuang X. Cracking elements method for dynamic brittle fracture. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 2019, 102 : 1–9

[18] Rabczuk T, Belytschko T. Cracking particles: A simplified meshfree method for arbitrary evolving cracks. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2004, 61( 13): 2316–2343

[19] Giraldo D, Restrepo D. The spectral cell method in nonlinear earthquake modeling. Computational Mechanics, 2017, 60( 6): 883–903

[20] Zakian P. Stochastic finite cell method for structural mechanics. Computational Mechanics, 2021, 68( 1): 185–210

[21] Ren H, Zhuang X, Cai Y, Rabczuk T. Dual-horizon peridynamics. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2016, 108( 12): 1451–1476

[22] Cattin R, Briole P, Lyon-Caen H, Bernard P, Pinettes P. Effects of superficial layers on coseismic displacements for a dip-slip fault and geophysical implications. Geophysical Journal International, 1999, 137( 1): 149–158

[23] Zhao S, Müller R, Takahashi Y, Kaneda Y. 3-D finite-element modelling of deformation and stress associated with faulting: Effect of inhomogeneous crustal structures. Geophysical Journal International, 2004, 157( 2): 629–644

[24] Lavecchia G, Castaldo R, Nardis R, De Novellis V, Ferrarini F, Pepe S, Brozzetti F, Solaro G, Cirillo D, Bonano M, Boncio P, Casu F, De Luca C, Lanari R, Manunta M, Manzo M, Pepe A, Zinno I, Tizzani P. Ground deformation and source geometry of the 24 August 2016 Amatrice earthquake (Central Italy) investigated through analytical and numerical modeling of DInSAR measurements and structural-geological data. Geophysical Research Letters, 2016, 43( 24): 12389–12398

[25] Zakian P, Khaji N, Soltani M. A Monte Carlo adapted finite element method for dislocation simulation of faults with uncertain geometry. Journal of Earth System Science, 2017, 126( 7): 105

[26] Gómez D D, Bevis M, Pan E, Smalley R Jr. The influence of gravity on the displacement field produced by fault slip. Geophysical Research Letters, 2017, 44( 18): 9321–9329

[27] Hearn E H. Kinematics of southern California crustal deformation: Insights from finite-element models. Tectonophysics, 2019, 758 : 12–28

[28] Berberian M, Yeats R S. Patterns of historical earthquake rupture in the Iranian Plateau. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1999, 89( 1): 120–139

[29] Majidinejad A, Zafarani H, Vahdani S. Dynamic simulation of ground motions from scenario earthquakes on the North-Tehran fault. Geophysical Journal International, 2017, 209( 1): 434–452

[30] Majidinejad A, Zafarani H, Vahdani S. Broad-band simulation of M7. 2 earthquake on the North-Tehran fault, considering non-linear soil effects. Geophysical Journal International, 2018, 213( 2): 1162–1176

[31] Ritz J F, Nazari H, Ghassemi A, Salamati R, Shafei A, Solaymani S, Vernant P. Active transtension inside central Alborz: A new insight into northern Iran–southern Caspian geodynamics. Geology, 2006, 34( 6): 477–480

[32] LiuG RQuek S S. Finite Element Method: A Practical Course. Oxford: Elsevier Science, 2003

[33] KimN H. Introduction to Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis. New York: Springer, 2014

[34] BoulbesR J. Troubleshooting Finite-Element Modeling with Abaqus. Cham: Springer, 2020

[35] HoriM. Introduction to Computational Earthquake Engineering. London: World Scientific, 2011

[36] Zhang J, Xiao Y, Liang Z. Mechanical behaviors and failure mechanisms of buried polyethylene pipes crossing active strike-slip faults. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2018, 154 : 449–466

[37] KhezriMHeidarzadeh GShahidiAOroujniaPVakil Baghmisheh FGhaemiJHaddadanM. Urban geological map of Karaj. Geological Survey & Mineral Exploration of Iran, 2013

[38] Wells D L, Coppersmith K J. New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area, and surface displacement. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1994, 84( 4): 974–1002

[39] Kim Y S, Sanderson D J. The relationship between displacement and length of faults: A review. Earth-Science Reviews, 2005, 68( 3−4): 317–334

[40] Chen G, Chenevert M E, Sharma M M, Yu M. A study of wellbore stability in shales including poroelastic, chemical, and thermal effects. Journal of Petroleum Science Engineering, 2003, 38( 3−4): 167–176

[41] OkuHHaimsonB SongS R. True triaxial strength and deformability of the siltstone overlying the Chelungpu fault (Chi-Chi earthquake), Taiwan (China). Geophysical Research Letters, 2007, 34(9): L09306

[42] Sanahuja J, Dormieux L, Meille S, Hellmich C, Fritsch A. Micromechanical explanation of elasticity and strength of gypsum: From elongated anisotropic crystals to isotropic porous polycrystals. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 2010, 136( 2): 239–253

[43] Hooshmand A, Aminfar M H, Asghari E, Ahmadi H. Mechanical and physical characterization of Tabriz Marls, Iran. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 2012, 30( 1): 219–232

[44] Li L, Meng Q, Wang S, Li G, Tang C. A numerical investigation of the hydraulic fracturing behaviour of conglomerate in Glutenite formation. Acta Geotechnica, 2013, 8( 6): 597–618

[45] Liu H, Bu Y, Nazari A, Sanjayan J G, Shen Z. Low elastic modulus and expansive well cement system: The application of gypsum microsphere. Construction & Building Materials, 2016, 106 : 27–34

[46] Turichshev A, Hadjigeorgiou J. Triaxial compression experiments on intact veined andesite. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2016, 86 : 179–193

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press 2022