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

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Geological Survey & Mineral Exploration of Iran for providing the geological map.

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