Numerical Simulation of the Recent Crust Movement and Fault Activities in Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

AbstractMaking use of recent GPS data, heat flow data, elevation data, tectonic stress data, REVEL model of global plate movement, a thin‐shell finite element model incorporating known active faults is adopted to study the recent tectonic activity of Tibetan Plateau. A set of computational experiments show that: The existence of the active strike‐slip faults is one of the major controlling factors on the eastern and southeastern ward movement of the Tibetan crust material. The best numerical simulation result of the movement style of Sichuan‐Yunnan tectonic block is obtained from the models with strength difference among tectonic blocks. The best models suggest that the topographic stress and the convergence forces of the adjacent plate are controlling factors of the active faults in Tibetan Plateau, and the drag force under the lithosphere caused by the convection of the asthenosphere material also plays an important role as the boundary condition of the model.