Formation Mechanism of Ground Fissures Originated from the Hanging Wall of Normal Fault: A Case in Fen-Wei Basin, China

Abstract

This paper takes Fen-Wei Basin (FWB) as a case to study the ground fissures controlled by normal fault. Based on the field investigation, geophysical exploration, drilling, GNSS data and numerical calculation, the characteristics and mechanism of ground fissures originated from the hanging wall of normal faults are revealed. The results show that the distribution of ground fissures in the hanging wall and heading wall of the active faults is not uniform. Ground fissures are mostly distributed in the hanging wall of active faults and show a linear distribution on the surface, their strike is consistent with the fault, mainly characterized by vertical offset and horizontal tension. Ground fissures destroy the farmland and building foundation through which they pass and cause the rupture or displacement. In profile section, the ground fissure shows the characteristics of normal faults and dislocates the strata, and is connected with the underlying faults. Numerical analysis shows that the vertical displacement of normal fault activity in hanging wall is much larger than that in heading wall, which is the reason that tectonic ground fissures mainly originate from hanging wall. The range of dangerous area of ground fissures is controlled by the depth of fault, the strength of the ground fissures disaster is mainly controlled by the activity of fault. The formation of the ground fissures originated from the hanging wall of the fault experienced three stages: the main fault activity stage, the secondary fault activity stage and the fissure formation stage.

Keywords

ground fissure / Fen-Wei Basin / active fault / dislocation theory / formation mechanism / hazards / engineering geology

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