SHEAR BAND DEVELOPMENT LENGTH AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RUPTURE PROPAGATION THROUGH SOIL

Abstract

Model experiments of reverse fault rupture propagation through sand under 1-g conditions show that he D/H ratio for the same model height (40 cm) depends on the fault dip-angle, with the largest uplift is needed for a 60 dip-angle. This is explained with a simple elastic analysis together with the concept of a characteristic shear band development length, which is estimated from model experiments considering a constant peak to residual displacement along the shear band in biaxial tests. Soil anisotropy is also a contributing factor.