Implications of principal stress axes and eigenvalue ratios on critical orientation of fractures. Application to two tectonic regions in Alaska |
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| Authors: | C Caldentey X Lana |
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| Institution: | (1) Departmento de Geologia Dinámica, Geofisica y Paleontologia, Facultad de Fisica de la Universidad de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The principal stress axes and eigenvalue ratios of the stress tensors from two active seismic regions in Alaska (eastern Aleutian Arc and eastern Gulf of Alaska) are computed. These results are obtained using focal mechanisms of earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 5.5 to 8.2 and show for both regions slightly different compressional states with an orientation of the pressure axis of N26°W for the eastern Gulf of Alaska and N27°W for the east Aleutian Arc. The eigenvalue ratios for the eastern Gulf of Alaska and east Aleutian Arc are 0.84 and 0.99, respectively. The algorithm used in computations allows us to detect some focal mechanisms which are incoherent with respect to the obtained stress tensors. These incoherences are explained in terms of some tectonic features of the region. The orientations of possible pre-existing fractures which would need an unrealistically high maximum shear stress to start a slip on their fault planes are also investigated. These critical orientations depend on a constitutive frictional law as well as on eigenvalue ratios and eigenvectors of the stress tensors. The orientation, which is given in our case by the angle between the normal vector to a fracture and the regional tensional axis, is approximately 59° for the eastern Aleutian Arc. This angle ranges from 49° to 59° for the eastern Gulf of Alaska. It must be pointed out that fractures which need unrealistically high shear stress to start slip on their fault planes are defined by a very narrow band of possible angles between tensional direction and the normal vector to fault plane. |
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| Keywords: | Deviatoric stress tensor computation constitutive frictional law critical orientation of lithospheric fractures |
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