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The Influence of Loading Path on Fault Reactivation: A Laboratory Perspective
Author(s) -
Giorgetti C.,
Violay M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2020gl091466
Subject(s) - geology , slip (aerodynamics) , seismology , dilation (metric space) , fluid pressure , fault (geology) , compaction , geotechnical engineering , stiffness , tectonics , path (computing) , petrology , structural engineering , mechanics , engineering , geometry , computer science , physics , mathematics , aerospace engineering , programming language
The loading path the fault experiences is often neglected when evaluating its potential for reactivation and the related seismic risk. However, stress history affects fault zone compaction and dilation, and thus its mechanics. Therefore, in incohesive fault cores that could dilate or compact, the role of the loading path could not be ruled out. Here we reproduce in the laboratory different tectonic loading paths for reverse (load‐strengthening in the absence of significant fluid pressure increase) and normal gouge‐bearing faults (load‐weakening) to investigate the loading path influence on fault reactivation and seismic potential. We find that, before reactivation, experimental reverse faults undergo compaction , whereas experimental normal faults experience dilation . Additionally, when reactivated at comparable normal stress, normal faults are more prone to slip seismically than reverse faults. We infer that the higher mean stress normal faults experience compacts more efficiently the fault rock, increasing its stiffness and favoring seismic slip.