Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1109
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1109
17 Apr 2024
 | 17 Apr 2024

The effect of stiffness contrasts at faults on stress orientation

Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel

Abstract. Even though the crustal stress state is primarily driven by gravitational volume forces and plate tectonics, interpretations of borehole breakout observations show occasionally abrupt rotations of horizontal stress orientation of up to 90° when faults are crossed. This indicates the influence of faults on the local stress state, which parameter control the degree of rotation. Herein, we investigate the phenomenon of principal stress rotation at a fault by means of a 2D generic numerical model. We parametrised the fault as a rock stiffness contrast and investigate systematically the full model parameter space in terms of the ratio of the applied principal stresses, the rock stiffness contrast, as well as the angle between fault strike and orientation of the principal stress axis. General findings are that the stress rotation is negatively correlated with the ratio of principal stresses. A small angle between the far field stress orientation and the fault facilitates stress rotation. A high contrast in rock stiffness further increases the stress rotation angle. Faults striking perpendicular to the maximum principal stress orientation experience no rotation at all. However, faults oriented parallel to the maximum principal stress orientation experience either no rotation or a 90° rotation, dependent on the ratio of principal stresses and the rock stiffness contrast. A comparison with observations from various boreholes worldwide shows that in general, the findings are well in agreement, even though the dip angle proves to have an influence on the stress rotation, in particular for shallow dipping faults.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Aug 2024
Stress state at faults: the influence of rock stiffness contrast, stress orientation, and ratio
Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel
Solid Earth, 15, 1047–1063, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1047-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1047-2024, 2024
Short summary
Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1109', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 May 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Moritz Ziegler, 29 May 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1109', Anonymous Referee #2, 20 May 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Moritz Ziegler, 29 May 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1109', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 May 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Moritz Ziegler, 29 May 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1109', Anonymous Referee #2, 20 May 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Moritz Ziegler, 29 May 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Moritz Ziegler on behalf of the Authors (24 Jun 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (27 Jun 2024) by David Healy
ED: Publish as is (28 Jun 2024) by Federico Rossetti (Executive editor)
AR by Moritz Ziegler on behalf of the Authors (30 Jun 2024)  Manuscript 

Post-review adjustments

AA: Author's adjustment | EA: Editor approval
AA by Moritz Ziegler on behalf of the Authors (21 Aug 2024)   Author's adjustment   Manuscript
EA: Adjustments approved (22 Aug 2024) by David Healy

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Aug 2024
Stress state at faults: the influence of rock stiffness contrast, stress orientation, and ratio
Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel
Solid Earth, 15, 1047–1063, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1047-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1047-2024, 2024
Short summary
Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel
Moritz O. Ziegler, Robin Seithel, Thomas Niederhuber, Oliver Heidbach, Thomas Kohl, Birgit Müller, Mojtaba Rajabi, Karsten Reiter, and Luisa Röckel

Viewed

Total article views: 510 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
364 110 36 510 101 18 28
  • HTML: 364
  • PDF: 110
  • XML: 36
  • Total: 510
  • Supplement: 101
  • BibTeX: 18
  • EndNote: 28
Views and downloads (calculated since 17 Apr 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 17 Apr 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 495 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 495 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 17 Sep 2024
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The rotation of the principal stress axes in a fault structure because of a rock stiffness contrast has been investigated for the impact of the ratio of principal stresses, the angle between principal stress axes and fault strike, and the ratio of the rock stiffness contrast. A generic 2D geomechanical model is employed for the systematic investigation of the parameter space.