Study on reverse fault rupture propagation through sand with inclined ground surface

• Published in: Engineering geology 2020-10, Vol.276, p.105768, Article 105768
• Main Authors: Shi, Ji-Sen, Ling, Dao-Sheng, Hu, Cheng-Bao, Tu, Fu-bin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fault rupture; Inclined ground; Model test; Reverse faulting
• ISSN: 0013-7952; 1872-6917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105768

Previous studies on faulting were performed on horizontal grounds, which were hypothesized implicitly. As an increasing number of infrastructures are being built on topographically complex sites such as mountainous areas, investigations into fault rupture propagation through soil with an inclined surface have become significant. In this study, a series of 1 g physical model tests of reverse faulting with inclined ground surfaces were performed. The effects of ground inclination on the geometry of fault ruptures, displacement at the ground surface, and deformation of the sand layer were investigated. Three classical soil mechanics theories, namely, the Rankine, Roscoe, and Vermeer theories, were used to predict the directions of fault ruptures in sand with inclined ground surfaces. The predicted values were compared with the measured values obtained from the model tests. Based on the experimental results, a configuration of the setback limits for structures on an inclined ground is recommended to prevent destruction by fault ruptures. •Reverse faulting with inclined ground surface is investigated using 1 g physical model tests.•Fault throw for rupture outcropping increases as the ground inclination increases.•Rupture outcropping for negative ground inclination is farther from breakpoint than that for positive ground inclination.•Inclination angles of fault rupture at ground surface are predicted well by the Rankine theory.•Normalized width of zone influenced by rupture increases as the ground inclination decreases.