Development Of Faults Research Articles

Morphometric analysis of the North Liuleng Shan Fault in the northern Shanxi Graben System, China: Insights into active deformation pattern and fault evolution

The North Liuleng Shan Fault (NLSF) is one of the major active faults in the northern Shanxi Graben System (SGS) in North China. Although the fault has been investigated extensively in terms of late Quaternary activity, its active deformation pattern is still poorly characterized. In this study, we conducted a morphometric analysis of the fault using various geomorphic indices to assess the along-strike relative uplift rates, which include basin relief, slope, mountain front sinuosity (Smf), hypsometric integral (HI) and curves, valley floor width-to-height ratio (Vf), asymmetry factor (Af), basin elongation ratio (Re), and normalized channel steepness indices (ksn). Our findings indicate that the central portion of the fault has experienced higher relative uplift rates than the southwestern and northeastern portions, as demonstrated by higher basin-averaged slopes and ksn values, and lower Vf, Re, and Smf values. This spatial distribution pattern of relative uplift rates appears to correlate well with along-strike changes in the fault geometry and kinematics of the NLSF. We interpret the EW-striking, central portion of the NLSF as a releasing bend formed by the NE-striking, right-stepping, en-echelon southwestern and northeastern portions of the fault system, which are characterized by right-lateral oblique slip. Furthermore, the northeastward increase in HI values along with the regional basin evolution history suggest that the NLSF likely propagated from southwest to northeast. We propose that the southwestern portion of the fault most probably initiated earlier and that the central and northeastern portions formed later as extensional structures at the termini of the fault zone. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the tectonics and genesis of the basin-and-range geomorphology in the northern SGS.

Variability of syn-rift geometry in Pearl River Mouth Basin, China: implications for faulting patterns in two-phase rift basins

Recent studies of two-phase non-coaxial analogue experiments and natural rifts suggest that the pre-existing faults that form in the first-phase rift could strongly influence the fault development during a subsequent phase of extension. However, related models from natural examples are still lacking. Here we compare the fault geometry and evolution with different pre-existing fault arrays in two adjacent areas (Xijiang and Lufeng sags) from the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea. This basin has experienced two-phase rifting including the middle Eocene rift phase 1 (NW–SE extension) and a late Eocene–early Oligocene rift phase 2 (N–S extension). The Xijiang Sag developed an approximately NE-striking listric fault system, while the Lufeng Sag formed complex structure is composed of six major faults with various orientations. We demonstrate that the first-phase fault network in the Xijiang Sag is a colinear listric fault system, while that in the Lufeng Sag comprises two sets of (non-colinear) faults. In the Xijiang Sag, the second-phase fault network consists of the reactivated first-phase faults, newly formed faults abutting against or cross-cutting the pre-existing reactivated faults or occurring between the pre-existing faults. In contrast, in the Lufeng Sag, the second-phase faults include partially reactivated first-phase non-colinear faults and new non-colinear faults. The influence of first-phase faults on second-phase faults is manifested in several distinctive ways. Two sets of major non-colinear faults led to the development of more complicated oblique faults in the Lufeng Sag. The development of the second-phase faults is the result of a combination of geometry and heterogeneity of pre-existing fabrics, variation of extension direction and local perturbations set up by the geometry of pre-existing faults.

Graphene enables equiatomic FeNiCrCoCu high-entropy alloy with improved TWIP and TRIP effects under shock compression

Graphene (Gr) reinforced high-entropy alloy (HEA) matrix composites are expected as potential candidates for next-generation structural applications in light of outstanding mechanical properties. A deep comprehension of the underlying deformation mechanisms under extreme shock loading is of paramount importance, however, remains lacking due to experimentally technical limitations in existence. In the present study, by means of nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, dynamic deformation behaviors and corresponding mechanisms in equiatomic FeNiCrCoCu HEA/Gr composite systems were investigated in terms of various shock velocities. The resistance to dislocation propagation imparted by Gr was corroborated to encourage the elevated local stress level by increasing the likelihood of dislocation interplays, which facilitated the onset of twins and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) martensite laths. Meanwhile, the advent of Gr was demonstrated to endow the HEA with an additional twinning pathway that induced a structural conversion from HCP to parent face-centered cubic (FCC) inside HCP martensite laths, different from the classical one that necessitated undergoing the intermediate procedure of extrinsic stacking fault (ESF) evolution. More than that, by virtue of an increase in flow stress, the transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect was validated to be additionally evoked as the predominant strain accommodation mechanism at higher strains on the one hand, but which only assisted plasticity in pure systems, and on the other hand, can also act as an auxiliary regulation mode together with the twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect under intermediate strains, but with enhanced contributions relative to pure systems. One may expect that TRIP and TWIP effects promoted by introducing Gr would considerably inspire a synergistic effect between strength and ductility, contributing to the exceptional shock-resistant performance of FeNiCrCoCu HEAs under extreme regimes.

Coupling rare earth element analyses and high-resolution topography along fault scarps to investigate past earthquakes: A case study from the Southern Apennines (Italy)

AbstractThe systematic study of faults that have released strong earthquakes in the past is a challenge for seismic hazard assessment. In carbonate landscapes, the use of rare earth element (REE) concentrations on slickensides may aid the reconstruction of fault slip history. We applied this methodology to the Caggiano normal fault (Southern Apennines, Italy), cropping out southeast of the Irpinia 1980 CE earthquake fault (Mw 6.9), which was responsible for both the 1561 CE and partly the 1857 CE Basilicata earthquakes (Mw 6.7 and 7.1). We integrated the REE analysis approach with a high-resolution topographic analysis along 98 serial topographic profiles to measure vertical separations attributable to faulting since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The asymmetric scarp height profiles suggest fault-lateral propagation and along-strike variations in the fault evolution. Our results indicate the occurrence of 7 to 11 earthquakes with variable slip between ~40 cm and ~70 cm within post-LGM times. We estimated the magnitudes of the respective earthquakes, between 5.5 and 7.0, and most commonly between 6.3 and 6.5. The results suggest a recurrence time between 1.6 k.y. and 2.3 k.y. and a slip rate ranging between 0.6 mm/yr and 0.9 mm/yr. This approach may be useful for application to carbonate fault planes in similar tectonic contexts worldwide.

The causality analysis of incipient fault in industrial processes using dynamic data stream transfer entropy

The propagation of the developing incipient fault embeds potential risks to the safety management of industrial processes. The transfer entropy (TE) based causality analysis method is an effective solution for early detection and timely intervention of fault propagation. However, the slow-varying incipient fault could not be analyzed timely since the conventional TE is restricted by the limited data processing capacity and fixed data selection mode. For real-time causality analysis of developing industrial fault, we proposed the dynamic data stream transfer entropy (DDSTE) algorithm and presented the DDSTE-based causality analysis method in this paper. Firstly, the conventional static data model is replaced by dynamic data stream model, which could be updated and expanded with continues import of new data and would not be restricted by the limited storage capacity. Secondly, concerning the varying timing feature of incipient fault, the adaptive data sampling window is designed to match with incipient fault evolution stages. Thirdly, the long-lasting fault sequence is coarse-grained to improve the calculation efficiency for on-line using. Compared to conventional methods, DDSTE-based causality analysis outperforms in rapid tracking of incipient fault propagation and accurate estimation of fault location. The data collected from a real coal gasification process is used to verify the reliability and superiority of the proposed method.

Evolution of grounding failure‐insulation failure of 10 kV cable joints: Prerequisites of an explosion in enclosed cable trench

AbstractAn explosion accident in an enclosed cable trench caused by the discharge of 10 kV three‐phase cable joints is discussed. Combined with the disassembly analysis, the fault recording data analysis, and the validation of experiment, the evolution of the cable joint fault is deduced and discussed. The results show that the trigger of the cable joint fault is the creepage discharge at the cross‐linked polyethylene–silicon rubber insulation interface. This results in the partial breakdown and the grounding failure of three‐phase cable joints. Under the long‐term floating potential and current thermal effect, the insulations are gradually ablated and decomposed into a large amount of combustible gas. Finally, the accumulated combustible gas is ignited by the arc caused by a three‐phase short circuit at the moment of the reclosing operation. The analytical method and conclusions proposed in this paper can provide suggestions and guidance to prevent analogous distribution network cable joint fault accidents.

Turbidite system controlled by fault interaction and linkage on a slope belt of rift basin: Zhanhua depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Although the relationship between faulting and sedimentation has been extensively studied and discussed over the past decades using a variety of examples and surface and subsurface data. However, limited information is available regarding the evolutions within the interaction zones in sedimentary processes, depositional architecture and sand bodies dispersal, which are crucial for hydrocarbon exploration, specifically in deep-water sedimentary system. To investigate the effects of fault interaction and linkage on the sedimentary processes and architecture of deep-water turbidite systems and explore the impact of fault linkage patterns on the dispersal of sand bodies, 3D seismic data, cores and logging data were collected from the southern slope zone of the Zhanhua Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. The Kenxi area exhibits two typical fault-reworked geomorphologies (i.e. slope geomorphology with weak reworking and fault-trough geomorphology with strong reworking), which control the development of fan depositional architecture dominated by turbidity current and fault-confined channel depositional architecture dominated by mixed traction current and turbidity current, respectively. These turbidite systems indicate that they are connected to flood occurrence based on systematic lithofacies analysis. Nevertheless, two distinct sediment grain sizes and drainages have been formed and may be related to fault confinement and slope gradients. Additionally, we propose conceptual fault linkage models that regulate drainage and the dispersion of sand bodies, highlighting the effects of fault evolution stages and separation distance on local geomorphology. First, the region with relatively unconfined geomorphology, dominated by non-separated faults in the soft linkage stage, is where lobe deposits are more likely to have formed. The relay ramps, shaped by separated faults in the soft linkage stage, control the direction of the transportation of sediments in the proximal area. Second, the distribution of fault-confined channels is laterally confined by long extended fault-trough geomorphology formed following hard linkage by non-separated faults. The local footwall hump (i.e. local topographic high) formed in an overlapped zone by separated faults provides frontal confinement for sand bodies in the hard linkage stage. This study reveals that in addition to onshore river systems, the architecture and distribution of deep-water turbidite systems are significantly influenced by fault interaction and linkage patterns. Meanwhile, it provides a new model for facilitating the prediction of the reservoir distribution of turbidite systems in the slope zone of rift basins.

Single-ended protection method for hybrid HVDC transmission line based on transient voltage characteristic frequency band

Hybrid high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission has the characteristic of long transmission distance, complex corridor environment, and rapid fault evolution of direct current (DC) lines. As high fault current can easily cause irreversible damage to power devices, rapid and reliable line protection and isolation are necessary to improve the security and reliability of hybrid HVDC transmission system. To address such requirement, this paper proposes a single-ended protection method based on transient voltage frequency band characteristics. First, the frequency characteristics of the smoothing reactor, DC filter, and DC line are analyzed, and the characteristic frequency band is defined. A fault criterion is then constructed based on the voltage characteristic frequency band energy, and faulty pole selection is performed according to the fault voltage characteristic frequency band energy ratio. The proposed protection method is verified by simulation, and the results show that it can rapidly and reliably identify internal and external faults, accurately select faulty poles without data communication synchronization, and has good fault-resistance and anti-interference performance.

Characteristics and evolution of faults in the north-central Yin’e Basin and the effects on the coal-seam in the Cretaceous strata

Characteristics and evolution of faults in the north-central Yin’e Basin and the effects on the coal-seam in the Cretaceous strata

A rolling bearing fault evolution state indicator based on deep learning and its application

A rolling bearing fault evolution state indicator based on deep learning and its application

Seismic observation of an active detachment faulting system beneath the Longqi hydrothermal field at the ultraslow spreading southwest Indian ridge

Hydrothermal processes in detachment settings at slow and ultraslow spreading ridges differ greatly from those at melt-rich faster spreading ridges. Active detachment faulting provides the possibility for off-axis high-temperature hydrothermal vents located far away from the heat source beneath the axial volcanic ridge. Seismic data from the slow spreading Mid-Atlantic ridge revealed that hydrothermal fluids may exploit detachment faults to extract heat from a melt zone near the crust-mantle interface. However, knowledge of the subsurface structure and the kinematic processes of detachment faults, and their interaction with hydrothermal fields at the slowest spreading ridges is still insufficient. Here, we report new insights on the seismicity beneath the Longqi hydrothermal field at the ultraslow spreading southwest Indian ridge from three ocean bottom seismometer monitoring experiments. The seismicity outlines the subsurface geometry of a detachment faulting system (DF1 and DF2). The strongly flexed DF1 (45°) is a mature detachment fault with a domed-shaped OCC where ultramafic rocks are exposed on the seafloor. An active young DF2 with intense earthquake activity along the steep subsurface (67°) suggests the initiation phase of rotation. The diversity of hydrothermal activities in the Longqi detachment-hydrothermal systems is closely related to the evolution of detachment faults. Additionally, both the non-transform discontinuity on the western margin of the Longqi-1 field and local faults facilitate hydrothermal circulation. Our study provides baseline observations for a Longqi-type of hydrothermal circulation at the inside corner associated with detachment faulting and non-transform offsets.

The Isle of Wedmore relay ramp: how fault evolution created King Alfred's historic landmark

The Isle of Wedmore covers an area of ~19 km2, rises up to ~65 m above the surrounding lowlands of the Somerset Levels, and was an island until the Middle Ages. The topography is interpreted as having been formed by a relay ramp between two right-stepping faults (the Weare Fault to the west and the Mudgley Fault to the east) which have tens of metres of downthrow to the south, and which are probably normal faults. The relay ramp has a dip of about 3° to the SW and is breached by the NW-striking Wedmore Fault, which has up to ~23 m downthrow to the NE. Several NE-trending faults occur in the relay ramp, which are interpreted as having formed when the relay ramp became a contractional step when the Weare and Mudgley faults underwent sinistral reactivation, or as N–S contraction occurred during the Cenozoic. Analogues for this behaviour are presented from the Liassic rocks on the coast between Lilstock and East Quantoxhead.

Analysis on multi period activity and evolution of Yingxiu-Beichuan fault in Longmenshan area

As the boundary between the Yangtze Craton and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Longmenshan tectonic belt is known for its typical fault-slip systems and strong Cenozoic activities. Due to the complexity of the structure of the orogenic belt, the tectonic evolution and formation mechanism of the Longmenshan tectonic belt have been controversial. This paper essentially focuses on the geological isotopic chronology limitation of the fault activity of the Longmenshan Central Fault (Yingxiu-Beichuan Fault). The K-Ar dating of the illite in the fault gouge sample on the fault surface reveals that the direct age of the fault would be about 111 Ma. Combined with the previous age results, the following results are obtained: The Yingxiu-Beichuan fault was a multi-stage active fault in the Mesozoic, which was active in the Late Triassic (229–216 Ma), Early Jurassic (190–171 Ma) and the end of Early Cretaceous (130–110Ma). This paper analyzes the evolution of the central fault through regional geological evolution, seismic profile analysis and structural physical simulation experiment, and the following main results are obtained: Animaqing Paleo-Tethys Ocean on the northern margin of the Songpan Garze Block and the Jinshajiang Paleo Tethys Ocean in the southern margin were closed successively in the Middle and Late Triassic, Such a fact essentially occurred under the influence of differential uplift, that is, the pre-existing Yingxiu-Beichuan fault changed from a normal fault to a reverse fault in the Late Triassic, and then reactivated. Under the influence of the gravity slip mechanism, the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault was active until it ceased in the Early Jurassic. Since then, affected by the closure of the Middle Tethys Ocean, in the Early Cretaceous, the fault developed again, and branch faults developed in front of the fault. During the Himalayan period, due to the collision and ccocnnection of the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate, the fault was reactivated.

3D Model and Structural-Kinematic Evolution of the Pre-Jurassic Crystalline Basement of the Western Georgia

The modern structure of Western Georgia is determined mainly by the meridional (sub-meridional) and latitudinal systems of faults covering different depths of the Earth's crust. The noted faults are often-sided boundaries of the blocks of the crystalline basement of the Earth's crust, creating a picture of its mosaic-block structure. The analysis of the lithofacies and thicknesses of the sedimentary cover developed within their limits, in several cases, indicating their autonomous and inversion nature of development. The comparison of geophysical and drilling data and applying the system analysis method of disjunctive structures made it possible to clarify some issues of the structural-kinematic evolution and morphogenetic of individual blocks and faults of the pre-Jurassic crystalline basement within the limits of the Southern Caucasus. A 3D physical model of the surface of the crystalline basement constructed by us within Western Georgia shows the spatial arrangement and the character of the inversion nature of individual blocks, indicating the manifestations of the Alpine and Late Alpine orogeneses. Analysis of the actual material, geophysical, and geological data for the intra-Caucasian intermountain area allows us to draw the following conclusions: the Georgian Block (a fragment of the Transcaucasian median massif, microplates, and terranes), with a pre-Jurassic crystalline basement exposed in its central part, is divided into the western and eastern subsidence zones, which in turn disintegrate into separate blocks. From the central zone of the uplift of the Georgian Block to the east and west, a gradual "stepwise" subsidence and tilting of the blocks of the crystalline basement is outlined. Similar structures are known in the literature as the so-called tilt blocks.

Formation and evolution of the strike-slip faults in the central Sichuan Basin, SW China

Based on 3D seismic and drilling data, the timing, evolution and genetic mechanism of deep strike-slip faults in the central Sichuan Basin are thoroughly examined by using the U-Pb dating of fault-filled carbonate cement and seismic-geological analysis. The strike-slip fault system was initially formed in the Late Sinian, basically finalized in the Early Cambrian with dextral transtensional structure, was overlaid with at least one stage of transpressional deformation before the Permian, then was reversed into a sinistral weak transtensional structure in the Late Permian. Only a few of these faults were selectively activated in the Indosinian and later periods. The strike-slip fault system was affected by the preexisting structures such as Nanhuanian rifting normal faults and NW-striking deep basement faults. It is an oblique accommodated intracratonic transfer fault system developed from the Late Sinian to Early Cambrian to adjust the uneven extension of the Anyue trough from north to south and matches the Anyue trough in evolution time and intensity. In the later stage, multiple inversion tectonics and selective activation occurred under different tectonic backgrounds.

Research on Fault Diagnosis Method of Intelligent Production Line Based on Petri Net and SDG Model

Due to its complex structure and functionality, intelligent production line has a higher possibility of failure during operation. When failures occur, the monitoring and control functions of the intelligent production line will be impacted, leading to a system failure. Therefore, when monitoring the security of the intelligent production line and executing the security policy, it is necessary to consider not only the functional safety and information security of the information physical system, but also the dynamic process of fault propagation and evolution in the same level or between different levels of the intelligent production line, so as to provide more accurate security protection for the intelligent production line. To address the above problems, this paper proposes a Petri net-based fault diagnosis method and SDG-based fault tracing method to accurately locate the faults that occur during the operation of intelligent production line.The experiment proves that the method proposed in this paper is accurate and has reference significance for the monitoring and operation and maintenance of intelligent production line.

Analyzing the Formation and Evolution of Strike-Slip Faults and Their Controlling Effects on Hydrocarbon Migration and Charging: A Case Study of Tahe Area, Tarim Basin

The Ordovician strike-slip faults system in the Tahe area of the Tarim Basin provides an important opportunity for using 3D seismic data to document the structural characteristics, formation, and evolution of strike-slip faults and their relationship with oil and gas. With high-resolution 3D seismic data, the strike-slip faults are interpreted, classified, and described using the seismic coherence technique. The geometric characteristics, active periods, formation, and evolution process of strike-slip faults are analyzed, and the relationship between strike-slip faults and hydrocarbon accumulation and charging is discussed in this research project. On the map, the primary strike-slip faults on the east and west sides of the Tahe area are relatively sheared to each other, showing an “X” type conjugate fault, and the secondary strike-slip faults are scattered. In the cross-section, the primary strike-slip faults are inserted downward into the Cambrian basement and up to Devonian, and “Single line”, “Y”, “Flower”, and “Parallel lines” structures are observed. Bounded by the top of Ordovician, the deep and shallow parts are vertically segmented, with different structure styles. The switch of the structural style of strike-slip faults is attributed to principal stress. A deep “positive flower” shape of faults was developed in the mid-Ordovician period under the effect of compressive stress. Meanwhile, a shallow “negative flower” shape of faults was developed from the late Ordovician to the mid-Devonian period under tensile stress. The “Compound Flower” shape of deep “positive flower” shape and shallow “negative flower” shape formed by compressive and tensile activities has a wider fracture range, which leads to deep fluid migration and shallow karstification. There are two combinations of deep Ordovician strike-slip faults in the section: “Lower single branch-upper flower type” and “lower single branch-upper single branch type”. The primary faults of the former insertion into the Cambrian basement are associated with homologous secondary faults, while the latter has no derived secondary faults. It has an important impact on reservoir reconstruction and distribution, and the reservoir is controlled by faults. Strike-slip faults not only control the channel of oil and gas migration, but also the horizontal and vertical distribution of oil and gas. The closer the carbonate reservoir is to the primary fault, the more likely it is to form a high yield area. There are four types of oil and gas charging models controlled by strike-slip faults. In the area where the structure is high and the strike-slip faults are sheared relatively to each other, the larger the scale of faults, the more conducive it would be to oil and gas migration and accumulation. Among them, the charging model related to the primary fault has higher oil and gas migration efficiency. This research contributes to analyzing the relationship between strike-slip faults and oil and gas as well as playing a significant role in applications of oil and gas exploration in practical works.

3D Evolution of Detachment Fault Systems in Necking Domains: Insights From the Klakk Fault Complex and the Frøya High, Mid‐Norwegian Rifted Margin

AbstractDetachment fault systems typically record displacements in the order of 10s of kilometers. The principles that control the growth of smaller magnitude normal faults are not fully applicable to the evolution of detachment fault systems. We use interpretation of 2D and 3D seismic reflection data from the mid‐Norwegian rifted margin to investigate how the structural evolution of a detachment fault interacted with the effects of isostatic footwall rollback to produce complex 3D geometries and control the configuration of associated supradetachment basins. We further investigate the effects of lateral interaction and linkage of extensional detachment faults on the necking domain configuration. In our study area, the domain‐bounding Klakk Fault Complex demonstrates how successive incision may induce a complex structural relief in response to faulting and fault plane folding. We interpret the previously proposed metamorphic core complex within its footwall as an extension‐parallel turtleback‐structure. The now eroded turtleback is flanked by a major supradetachment basin, connecting two main basin segments. We attribute footwall‐ and turtleback exhumation to Middle Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous rifting. The study area further demonstrates how detachment fault geometries can change during rifting and lead to the formation of younger, successively incising fault splays. Lateral linkage between the original detachment fault plane and these fault splays enables displacement along a detachment fault system consisting of fault segments generated at different stages in time. Implicitly, detachment faults are complex 3D systems that change configuration during their evolution, perpetually controlling associated basin formation, footwall configuration, subsidence and uplift patterns.

Constraining Fault Damage Zone Properties From Geodesy: A Case Study Near the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence

AbstractSeismologic studies have reported seismic velocities reduction and Vp/Vs ratio changes over damage zones associated with seismogenic faults. The structure and elastic properties of these damage zones indicate the maturity of faults and affect the rupture dynamics of future seismic events. Therefore, they contain critical information about fault properties that could inform seismic hazards. Here we present a geodetic modeling approach to constrain velocity changes and elastic properties of fault damage zones under stress perturbation from nearby earthquakes. Compared to seismic tomographic analysis that is usually limited by resolution, this geodetic approach provides tighter constraints on the elastic properties and geometry of the damage zone at shallow depths. Our results imply that a major component of the shallow strain release is distributed and inelastic. The existence of numerous shallow faults either may indicate a locally detached shallow layer or they are remnants from earlier fault evolution.

Structures evolution along strike-slip fault zones: The role of rheology revealed by PIV analysis of analog modeling

This study investigates how rheology can influence the nucleation and evolution of strike-slip structures and, consequently, the structural architecture. To that end, we carried out a series of analog experiments using materials with different rheological behavior. The materials' properties, such as the angle of internal friction, cohesion, and density, were measured. The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was applied to investigate the strain pattern on the surface, the amplitude of damage zones and fault core, the activeness/inactiveness of the structures over the evolution of strike-slip fault, and the earliest nucleation stage of fractures. Two sets of experiments were performed: i) single-layer experiments constituted by rheologically homogeneous material (quartz sand, dry clay, plaster powder, and a mixture of quartz sand and plaster powder), and ii) multilayer experiment using a heterogeneous stratified sequence of materials with different rheology. Except for the plaster powder model, during the first increments of deformation, the strain is widely distributed to give rise to a deforming zone with varying widths, where subsidiary structures nucleate. As deformation evolves, the deformation zone progressively narrows as the maximum strain concentrates along the main fault. Nucleation, development, and relative chronology of structures, such as R, R', P, Y-fractures, pull-apart basins, and positive and negative flower structures, varied according to the material used. The structural architecture of the dry clay and plaster powder models are more similar, with a greater quantity of smaller fractures than the other models. P-shears and pull-apart basins are also present. The quartz sand and mixture models developed a more complex damage zone and a higher topographic relief. The results emphasize that rheology is a controlling factor in the deformation zone architecture. Rheology controls fracture and fault arrangement, structure relative chronology, and the localization of contractional and extensional domains over all the stages of development of strike-slip tectonics.