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title of the thesis - Department of Geology - Queen's University

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Figure 4.5: (A) Model for tectonic loading. North, south and eastern boundaries are constrained such that<br />

motion perpendicular to <strong>the</strong> plane is restricted. A small eastward boundary velocity, ∆v, is applied to <strong>the</strong><br />

western model boundary. (B) A homogeneous stress field is applied at <strong>the</strong> boundaries. All sides are<br />

restrained such that motion perpendicular to <strong>the</strong> plane is restricted.<br />

4.4 Modelling with a Homogeneous Stress Field<br />

When a homogeneous stress field is applied, boundary stresses are specified such that σ 1 is<br />

oriented east-west and σ 3 is oriented north-south. Models were initiated with internal stresses set<br />

equal to <strong>the</strong> boundary stress conditions. Three cases are presented for <strong>the</strong> same model geometry to<br />

test <strong>the</strong> sensitivity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> solution to changes in fault strength and boundary conditions.<br />

4.4.1 Case 1: Variable fault strength parameters<br />

In <strong>the</strong> first case, all faults within <strong>the</strong> model are considered to have <strong>the</strong> same properties regardless<br />

<strong>of</strong> geology. Four fault strength conditions are tested (Table 4.2). 1) The locked condition<br />

indicates that faults are strong, healed and inactive; 2) <strong>the</strong> strong fault condition indicates that<br />

faults are strong and cohesive, yet still weaker than <strong>the</strong> rock mass; 3) <strong>the</strong> moderately strong<br />

condition implies that faults have previously slipped and have lost cohesion; 4) and lastly, <strong>the</strong><br />

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