Three-dimensional strains in fold-hinge zones

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out to study the orientation and values of the three principal extensions during folding, and to investigate the nature of the deformation paths of the strain ellipsoids at the fold hinges. Single layers embedded in a matrix were deformed by plane strain pure shear with the layers obliquely inclined to the axes of the bulk strain. The strains on the outer and inner arcs of the fold hinges were measured by means of grids on the layer surfaces. The orientation and values of three principal strains during folding depend on the layer orientation and the degree of deformation, and may be different on the outer and the inner arcs. The deformation paths in the outer arc are generally in the constriction field and those in the inner arc lie in the flattening field. The deformation paths have been computed by analyzing the manner by which components of layer shortening, tangential longitudinal strain and elongation parallel to the fold-hinge line combine to give the finite strain.