Development of branching brittle and ductile shear zones: A numerical study

Continental collision zones are usually associated with large‐scale strike‐slip shear zones. In most cases, these shear zones are complex and consist of multiple strands, varying in width, length, and total displacement. Here we present 2‐D numerical models to simulate the formation of such shear zones at different depth levels within the crust, under either brittle (frictional/plastic) or ductile conditions. Localization of shear zones is initiated by a material contrast (heterogeneity) of the material parameters. We systematically test the rate of strain weakening in brittle and in ductile regimes to understand its influence on the development of shear zone networks. Our simulations suggest that the development of antithetic faults in a brittle shear zone system is closely linked to a decrease in the angle of friction during deformation. In general, variation of the strain weakening also has a significant influence on ductile shear zones. Numerical results show that the geometry and thickness of the localized high strain zone are especially affected by weakening mechanisms during deformation. Furthermore, the interconnection and interaction of the shear strands lead to a more complex kinematic pattern, which lead to a local change in the maximum principal stress axis. These interaction of shear strands may explain the occurrence of shear‐related structures (e.g., folds) or differing characteristics of shear zones, such as the thickness of shear zones or the orientation of the faults to the stress field, which are consistent with field observations.