Extensional Quadrant Research Articles

Architecture of strike-slip fault zones in the central Tarim Basin and implications for their control on petroleum systems

The strike-slip fault zones (SSFZs) of the central Tarim Basin have great potential for hydrocarbon exploration and development. They can both serve as hydrocarbon migration paths and host hydrocarbons. However, the complexity of SSFZ varies significantly along the fault strike, and strike-slip fault-controlled deeply buried carbonate reservoirs are often extremely heterogeneous, increasing exploration risks. Here, we reconstructed the architecture and setting of the SSFZ of the central Tarim Basin and analyzed the complex and heterogeneous hydrocarbon system that characterizes this exploration area.The integrated seismic and well datasets show that the development of SSFZs has led to the fracturing of tight carbonates and enhancements in the karstification process, secondary porosity and permeability due to the presence of open fractures. Based on the vertical height of the fault in the section and continuity, the SSFZs in the central Tarim Basin have been classified as 1st-order or 2nd-order faults. The 1st-order faults are found in the repeatedly reactivated vertical SSFZ, which is composed of sub-vertical strike-slip faults in the Paleozoic strata and en-echelon normal faults in the shallow layer. The 2nd-order faults develop only in Paleozoic strata without reactivated features. Continuous through-going, hard-linked 1st-order faults are a more valuable target for future exploration than soft-linked 2nd-order faults because 1st-order faults control larger-scale fracture-cavity reservoirs, and their fault activity periods correspond to hydrocarbon accumulation periods. We classified damage zones as wall-, and linking-damage zones, based on their location around the fault. There are two types of linking-damage zones, extensional steps and contractional steps, which develop in the extensional and contractional quadrants of the fault segment, respectively. Linking-damage zones are associated with more structural complexity than narrow and straight wall damage zones. Fractures in the contractional steps are generally closed and have low conductance, which is not suitable for fracture-cavity trap formation and hydrocarbon migration. Because opening-mode fracture development and permeability enhancement are greatest at the extensional steps, these locations are more likely to be important foci for strike-slip fault-controlled carbonate reservoirs. Our findings, in combination with previous research, indicate that fault zones in the central Tarim Basin, act as combined conduit-barrier systems, with damage zones typically featuring highly conductive fracture networks and fault cores acting as seals, resulting in heterogeneous reservoir distributions.

Volcano growth versus deformation by strike-slip faults: Morphometric characterization through analogue modelling

Volcanoes display diverse morphologies as a result of the complex interplay of several constructive and destructive processes. Scaled analogue models offer a tool to isolate and characterize the different processes. Here, we investigate the interplay between volcano growth and deformation caused by an underlying strike-slip fault through simple analogue models. In particular, we analyze the morphometry of analogue volcanoes resulting from different growth-to-deformation ratios. Deformation elongates the volcano edifice at an angle of 10–45° from the fault trace along the extensional quadrants and generates a summit graben structure oriented perpendicular to the edifice elongation. The overall steepness of the edifice decreases, but steep slopes are preserved or increased on the lower compressional flanks, commonly related to small avalanches. Growth can partially to totally mask these features depending on the growth rate to strike-slip velocity ratio. The summit graben is easily masked even by low growth rates, whereas edifice elongation has the best preservation potential. Scaling of the experiments suggests that at volcanoes with growth rate (km3/yr) to strike-slip velocity (km/yr) ratios ≤3.8 km3/km, deformation features should be clearly preserved, whereas at volcanoes with ratios ≥15 km3/km, deformation features should be completely masked. The typical growth rates of volcanoes (0.01 to 1 km3/ka) and the typical velocities of strike-slip faults (1 to 20 mm/yr) suggest that in nature, growth rate to strike-slip velocity ratios can range over 3 orders of magnitude, spanning both types of end-members. Using examples of both active and inactive volcanoes located on strike-slip faults with variable elongation intensities and orientations, we highlight that the analogue models account for some of the morphometric variability observed at volcanoes in nature, although the role of vent distribution can be a key factor.

Discrete Fracture Network modelling of a hydrocarbon-bearing, oblique-slip fault zone: Inferences on fault-controlled fluid storage and migration properties of carbonate fault damage zones

Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) modelling is a useful tool to assess both fluid storage and migration properties of naturally fractured carbonate rocks. This work presents the results of multiple DFN models, which represent the structural network associated with a ca. 100 m–offset, oblique-slip, normal fault zone crosscutting Miocene ramp carbonates of the Majella Mountain, Italy. Specifically, by taking advantage of a previously published conceptual model of fault nucleation and growth, the DFN models are aimed at computing the amount of fracture porosity and equivalent permeability of representative portions of the evolving fault damage zone. In fact, by first considering only background structural elements, those pre-dating the fault nucleation stage, all fault-related structural elements such as joints, small and medium faults are added, one by one, according to their relative time of formation. Small faults are characterized by several cm-offset, whereas the latter ones have several 10's of cm-offset. The following fracture parameters are inputted for each structural element: (i) length; (ii) aspect ratio; (iii) mechanical and hydraulic aperture; (iv) fracture intensity and (v) orientation. A sensitivity analysis is carried out in order to test the seeding procedure of the software, and the input fracture aperture values. Results of DFN modelling are consistent with the small faults forming the main repository for underground geofluids. Differently, the fluid migration paths through the fault damage zone are mainly controlled by opening-mode-related fractures, which mainly form clusters at the extensional quadrants of sheared structural elements. Due to their attitude and distribution, these features mainly enhance fault-parallel fluid migration paths. In fact, the computed values of horizontal equivalent permeability obtained along this direction are about one order of magnitude higher than those along the orthogonal direction. The approach and methodologies applied in this work, together with the results of the multiple DFN model configurations show the relative influence and role of the different structural elements on fluid storage and migration properties of limestone-hosted, fault damage zones.

Upper–greenschist facies intragrain deformation of albite in mylonitic meta–pegmatite and the influence of crystallographic anisotropy on microstructure formation

We studied the deformation behaviour of albite from Permian meta–pegmatite in Cretaceous upper–greenschist facies shear zones from the Austroalpine Matsch Unit in the Eastern Alps (Italy). Sodium–feldspars from these rocks provide excellent natural examples for studying mechanisms of intragranular deformation under mid–crustal conditions in grains with different angular relations between their (010) planes and the kinematic frame. The studied rocks were deformed at c. 500 °C in localized shear zones with well characterized top–W shear kinematics supposedly during the Cretaceous upper–greenschist facies tectonometamorphic event. Microstructural and chemical data suggest that crystallographic anisotropies in albite exert a strong control on microstructure formation and that albite primarily deformed by a combination of brittle fracturing, dissolution–precipitation and incipient crystal plasticity as a function of the orientation of the crystallographic anisotropy relative to the supposed shortening direction. Dissolution along discontinuities forming stylolites perpendicular to the shortening direction is associated with the precipitation of fine–grained albite with some compositional variability (Ab96–98 and Ab89–91) in cracks. New albite precipitates form aggregates with straight segments of high angle grain boundaries, nearly 120° dihedral angles and only a poor or no orientation relation to the hosting clast. Intragranular kinking is related to continuous lattice rotation of up to 15° by a misorientation axis close to albite [100] and the formation of subgrain boundaries with maximum misorientations of 7°. Synthetic microshear zones supposedly nucleated on pre–existing cracks, and are associated with formation of subgrain boundaries in shortening quadrants and cracks together with precipitates of potassium feldspar in extensional quadrants adjacent to the microshear zone. New microstructural and textural data from mylonitic Permian meta–pegmatites document various closely linked crystal plastic and brittle deformation mechanisms and highlight the role of crystallographic anisotropies and their orientation with respect to the kinematic frame in microstructure formation.

Inelastic response of compliant fault zones to nearby earthquakes in three dimensions

Abstract Using dynamic modeling of earthquake rupture on a strike-slip fault and seismic wave propagation in a three dimensional inhomogeneous elastoplastic medium, we investigate the inelastic response of compliant fault zones to nearby earthquakes. We primarily examine the plastic strain distribution within the fault zone and the displacement field that characterizes the effects of the presence of the fault zone. We find that when the fault zone rocks are close to failure in the prestress field, plastic strain occurs along the entire fault zone near the Earth's surface and some portions of the fault zone in the extensional quadrant at depth, while the remaining portion deforms elastically. Plastic strain enhances the surface displacement of the fault zone, and the enhancement in the extensional quadrant is stronger than that in the compressive quadrant. Inelastic response may be distinguished from elastic response by sympathetic motion (or reduced retrograde motion) exhibited in the fault-parallel horizontal surface displacement in conjunction with enhanced vertical surface displacement in a strike-slip faulting environment. These findings suggest that taking into account both elastic and inelastic deformation of fault zones to nearby earthquakes may improve our estimations of fault zone structure and properties from small-scale surface deformation signals. Furthermore, identifying the inelastic response of nearby fault zones to large earthquakes may allow us to place some constraints on the absolute stress level in the crust.

High Shear Rheology and Anisotropy in Concentrated Solutions of Monoclonal Antibodies

The high shear rheology of three concentrated solutions of immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb1, mAb2, and mAb3), differing only in their complementarity determining regions, was characterized using rotary and capillary rheometry. The more viscous solutions (mAb1 and mAb3) showed non-Newtonian behavior at high shear rates exhibiting both shear thinning and appreciable normal stress differences (NSDs) in the shear rate range γ = 10 to 10(4) s(-1) . The rheograms were retraced after γ is increased and decreased, suggesting reversible self-associations under shear. In contrast, mAb2 solutions showed Newtonian behavior up to γ = 6 × 10(4) s(-1) . The critical shear stress τc , corresponding to the onset of the reduction in the viscosity η, is a measure of mAb equilibrium cluster strength and increased rapidly with concentration for the high viscosity mAb solutions above 100 mg/mL. In addition, decreasing the temperature from 20°C to 5°C increased η at low γ, but shear-thinning was enhanced and its onset occurred at a lower γc . Using an Arrhenius model η = A exp(Ea /kT), the activation energy for viscous flow Ea was found to decrease for mAb1 solutions as γ was increased from 10 to 10(4) s(-1) , suggesting mAb cluster disruption or rearrangement under shear. In contrast, for mAb2, this Ea remained constant in the γ range. Finally, mAb1 and mAb3 solutions showed appreciable NSDs, with their N1 > 0 scaling linearly with γ in the range 10(3) to 10(4) s(-1) , whereas their |N2 /N1 | was less than 0.25 in this region. These suggest anisotropy and deformation of their solution microstructure toward the extensional quadrant of the flow at high γ. In contrast, the NSDs for mAb2 were close to zero indicating that the solution microstructure under shear is practically isotropic.

Temporal changes in attenuation associated with the 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake

Elevated seismic attenuation is often observed in fault zones due to the high degree of fracturing and fluid content. However, temporal changes in attenuation at the time of an earthquake are poorly constrained but can give indications of fracture damage and healing. In this study, spectral ratios between earthquakes within repeating clusters are calculated in an attempt to resolve temporal variations in attenuation at the time of the 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake. A sharp increase in attenuation is observed immediately after the earthquake, which then decays over the next 2 years. Influences of intercluster magnitude variations, time window length and previously reported postseismic velocity changes are investigated. The postseismic decay is fit by a logarithmic function. The timescale of the decay is found to be similar to that in GPS data and ambient seismic noise velocities following the 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake. The amplitude of the attenuation change corresponds to a decrease of approximately 10% in Qp at the time of the earthquake. The greatest changes are recorded on the northeast of the fault trace, consistent with preferential damage in the extensional quadrant behind a north‐westerly propagating rupture tip. Our analysis suggests that significant changes in seismic attenuation and hence fracture dilatancy during coseismic rupture are limited to depths of less than about 5 km.

Properties of inelastic yielding zones generated by in-plane dynamic ruptures—I. Model description and basic results

We discuss results associated with 2-D numerical simulations of in-plane dynamic ruptures on a fault governed by slip-weakening and rate-and-state friction laws with off-fault yielding. The onset of yielding is determined by a Mohr–Coulomb-type criterion whereas the subsequent inelastic response is described by a Duvaut-Lions-type viscoplastic rheology. The study attempts to identify key parameters and conditions that control the spatial distribution and the intensity variation of off-fault yielding zones, the local orientation of the expected microfractures, and scaling relations or correlations among different quantities that can be used to characterize the yielding zones. In this paper, we present example results for crack and pulse ruptures, along with calculations of energy partition and characteristics of the simulated off-fault yielding zones. A companion follow-up paper provides a comprehensive parameter-space study of various examined features. In agreement with previous studies, the location and shape of the off-fault yielding zones depend strongly on the angle of the background maximum compressive stress relative to the fault and the crack versus pulse mode of rupture. Following initial transients associated with nucleation of ruptures, the rate of various energy components (including off-fault dissipation) linearly increases with time for cracks, while approaching a constant level for pulse-like ruptures. The local angle to the fault of the expected microfractures is generally shallower and steeper than in the compressional and extensional quadrants, respectively. The scalar seismic potency density decays logarithmically with increasing fault normal distance, with decay slope and maximum value that are influenced by the operating stress field.

Analysis of membrane tank-tread of nonspherical capsules and red blood cells

We present an analysis of membrane motion of deformable capsules and red blood cells suspended in a linear shear flow and undergoing swinging and tumbling motions using three-dimensional numerical simulations. This study is motivated by the theory of the shape-preserving cells which predicts that the direction of the membrane rotation depends on the cell orientation and reverses at every 45° inclination angle of the cell major axis with respect to the external flow direction. By considering large deformation of capsules and red blood cells, here we investigate how the shape oscillation affects the time dependence and the direction reversal of the membrane rotation. We find that the membrane tank-tread is highly time-dependent in nature and synchronized with the time-dependent deformation. The maximum and minimum of the tank-tread velocity occur at and near the minimum and maximum deformation, respectively. For the swinging capsules and red blood cells, the direction of the membrane rotation is always along the direction of the external fluid rotation; however, a direction reversal occurs during the tumbling motion in which case the membrane rotates in the direction of the external fluid rotation when the major axis is mostly in the extensional quadrant of the shear flow, and in the opposite direction when it is mostly in the compressional quadrant. Unlike the theory which predicts the direction reversal at every 45° inclination angle irrespective of the control parameters, namely, the capillary number, viscosity ratio, and asphericity, we find that the angle at which the direction reversal occurs depends on these parameters. In particular, if the tumbling motion occurs by decreasing the capillary number, the membrane rotation is in the direction of the external flow rotation in the entire extensional quadrant, but in the opposite direction in the compressional quadrant, irrespective of the specific values of the capillary number. If the tumbling motion occurs by increasing the viscosity ratio and asphericity, the angle at which the direction reversal occurs depends on the specific values of these two parameters. The spatial variation of the tank-tread velocity also is analyzed and attributed to the straining motion of the external flow.

Inner structure and deformation mechanisms of normal faults in conglomerates and carbonate grainstones (Granada Basin, Betic Cordillera, Spain): Inferences on fault permeability

In the southeastern area of the Neogene-Quaternary Granada Basin, ∼E–W trending normal faults crosscut ∼80 m-thick clay-bearing conglomerates and ∼30–40 m-thick carbonate grainstones containing centimeter-thick microconglomerate and sand interbeds. Three fundamental failure modes took place during fault nucleation: (1) phyllosilicate shear banding in the conglomerates, (2) jointing, mainly in the carbonate grainstones and (3) pressure solution in the carbonate matrix and grains of the microconglomerate and sand interbeds. Within the conglomerates, normal faults developed by pronounced clay smearing and, ultimately, cataclasis. Jointing also occurred within some of the pebbles surrounding the cataclastic rocks. In contrast, in the carbonate grainstones fault growth was characterized by predominant jointing and rock fragmentation, which localized in the extensional quadrants and/or releasing jogs of the evolving slip surfaces. Brecciation and cataclasis occurred only around the well-developed slip surfaces. Based upon their inner structure, we qualitatively assign a combined barrier-conduit fluid behavior to the tens of meters-throw normal faults juxtaposing the conglomerates against the carbonate grainstones. The inner fault cores inhibit fault-orthogonal fluid flow along their entire length. Instead, fault damage zones act as fluid barriers in the conglomerates, and as composite fluid conduits in the carbonate grainstones.

Influence of material contrast on fault branching behavior

[1] Material contrasts across faults are a common occurrence, and it is important to understand if these material contrasts can influence the path of rupture propagation. Here we examine models, solved numerically, of rupture propagation through one type of geometric complexity, that of a fault branch stemming from a planar main fault on which rupture initiates. This geometry, with a material contrast across the main fault, could be representative of either a mature strike-slip fault or a subduction zone interface. We consider branches in both the compressional and extensional quadrants of the fault, and material configurations in which the branch fault is in either the stiffer or the more compliant material as well as configurations with no material contrast. We find that there are regimes in which this elastic contrast can influence the rupture behavior at a branching junction, but there are also stress states for which the branch activation will not depend on the orientation of the mismatch. For the scenarios presented here, both compressional and extensional side branches are more likely to rupture if the branch is on the side of the fault with the more compliant material versus the stiffer material. The stresses induced on the branch fault, by rupture traveling on the main fault, are different for the two orientations of material contrast. We show how the interactions between rupture on the two faults determine which faults are activated.

Tank-treading and tumbling frequencies of capsules and red blood cells

This study is motivated in part by the discrepancy that exists in the literature with regard to the dependence of the tank-treading frequency of red blood cells on the shear rate and suspending medium viscosity. Here we consider three-dimensional numerical simulations of deformable capsules of initially spherical and oblate spheroidal shapes and biconcave discoid representing the red blood cell resting shape. By considering a much broader range of the viscosity ratio (ratio of capsule or cell interior to suspending fluid viscosity), shear rate, and aspect ratio (ratio of minor to major axes) than that considered in the previous experiments, we find several new characteristics of the tank-treading and tumbling frequencies that have not been reported earlier. These new characteristics are the result of the large shape deformation and the coupling between shape and angular oscillations of the capsules or cells. For the spherical and oblate spheroidal capsules, the tank-treading frequency shows a nonmonotonic trend that is characterized by an initial decrease leading to a minimum followed by an increase with increasing viscosity ratio. For red blood cells, we find two regimes of the viscosity dependence of the tank-treading frequency: an exponential regime in which the tank-treading frequency decreases at a slower rate with increasing viscosity ratio, and a logarithmic range in which it decreases at a much faster rate. While this trend agrees well with different theoretical models of shape-preserving capsules, it was not evident in previous experimental results. When the shear rate dependence is considered, the tank-treading frequency of red blood cells and capsules of highly elongated initial shapes exhibits a nonmonotonic trend that is characterized by an initial increase leading to a maximum followed by a sharp decrease with decreasing shear rate. This anomalous behavior of the tank-treading frequency is shown to be due to a breathing-like dynamics of the capsule or cell that is characterized by a repeated emergence and absence of deep, crater-like dimples, and a large swinging motion. We further observe that the tumbling frequency exhibits a decreasing trend with increasing viscosity ratio that is in contrast to the theoretical result for the shape-preserving capsules and is due to the periodic deformation and preferential alignment of the capsules in the extensional quadrant of the flow.

The stability of a homogeneous suspension of chemotactic bacteria

The linear stability of a homogeneous dilute suspension of chemotactic bacteria in a constant chemoattractant gradient is analyzed. The bacteria execute a run-and-tumble motion, typified by the species E. coli, wherein periods of smooth swimming (runs) are interrupted by abrupt uncorrelated changes in swimming direction (tumbles). Bacteria tumble less frequently when swimming toward regions of higher chemoattractant concentration, leading to a mean bacterial orientation and velocity in the base state. The stability of an unbounded suspension, both with and without a chemoattractant, is controlled by coupled long wavelength perturbations of the fluid velocity and bacterial orientation fields. In the former case, the most unstable perturbations have their wave vector oriented along the chemoattractant gradient. Chemotaxis reduces the critical bacteria concentration, for the onset of collective swimming, compared with that predicted by Subramanian and Koch [“Critical bacterial concentration for the onset of collective swimming,” J. Fluid Mech. 632, 359 (2009)] in the absence of a chemoattractant. A part of this decrease may be attributed to the increase in the mean tumbling time in the presence of a chemoattractant gradient. A second destabilizing influence comes from the ability of the shearing motion, associated with a velocity perturbation in which the velocity and chemical gradients are aligned, to sweep prealigned bacteria into the local extensional quadrant thereby creating a stronger destabilizing active stress than in an initially isotropic suspension. The chemoattractant gradient also fundamentally alters the unstable spectrum for any finite wavenumber. In suspensions of bacteria that do not tumble, Saintillan and Shelley [“Instabilities and pattern formation in active particle suspensions: Kinetic theory and continuum simulations,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 178103 (2008); “Instabilities, pattern formation and mixing in active suspensions,” Phys. Fluids 20, 123304 (2008)] showed that the growth rate has two real solutions (stationary modes) below a critical wavenumber at which the two solutions merge and then bifurcate to form a pair of complex conjugate solutions (propagating modes) for larger wavenumbers. The discrete spectrum terminates at a second critical wavenumber, and beyond this wavenumber, the only remaining solutions are neutrally stable waves comprising the continuous spectrum. In the presence of a chemoattractant gradient, however, the aforementioned perfect bifurcation is broken and a pair of traveling wave solutions is found for all wavenumbers. Furthermore, instead of terminating at a critical wavenumber, the solutions for the growth rate asymptote to the negative of the tumbling frequency at large wavenumbers.

Fault-induced perturbed stress fields and associated tensile and compressive deformation at fault tips in the ice shell of Europa: implications for fault mechanics

Secondary fractures at the tips of strike-slip faults are common in the ice shell of Europa. Large magnitude perturbed stress fields must therefore be considered to be a viable driving mechanism for the development of part of the fracture sequence. Fault motions produce extensional and compressional quadrants around the fault tips. Theoretically, these quadrants can be associated with tensile and compressive deformational features (i.e. cracks and anti-cracks), respectively. Accordingly, we describe examples of both types of deformation at fault tips on Europa in the form of extensional tailcracks and compressional anti-cracks. The characteristics of these features with respect to the plane of the fault create a fingerprint for the mechanics of fault slip accumulation when compared with linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) models of perturbed stress fields around fault tips. Tailcrack kink angles and curving geometry can be used to determine whether opening accompanies sliding motion. Kink angles in the 50–70° range are common along strike-slip faults that resemble ridges, and indicate that little to no opening accompanied sliding. In contrast, tailcrack kink angles are closer to 30° for strike-slip faults that resemble bands, with tailcrack curvatures opposite to ridge-like fault examples, indicating that these faults undergo significant dilation and infill during fault slip episodes. Anti-cracks, which may result from compression and volume reduction of porous near-surface ice, have geometries that further constrain fault motion history, corroborating the results of tailcrack analysis. The angular separation between anti-cracks and tailcracks are similar to LEFM predictions, indicating the absence of cohesive end-zones near the tips of Europan faults, hence suggesting homogeneous frictional properties along the fault length. Tailcrack analysis can be applied to the interpretation of cycloidal ridges: chains of arcuate cracks on Europa that are separated by sharp kinks called cusps. Cusp angles are reminiscent of tailcrack kink angles along ridge-like strike-slip faults. Cycloid growth in a temporally variable tidal stress field ultimately resolves shear stresses onto the near-tip region of a growing cycloid segment. Thus, resultant slip and associated tailcrack development may be the driving force behind the initiation of the succeeding arcuate segment, hence facilitating the ongoing propagation of the cycloid chain.

The non-Newtonian rheology of dilute colloidal suspensions

The non-Newtonian rheology is calculated numerically to second order in the volume fraction in steady simple shear flows for Brownian hard spheres in the presence of hydrodynamic and excluded volume interactions. Previous analytical and numerical results for the low-shear structure and rheology are confirmed, demonstrating that the viscosity shear thins proportional to Pe2, where Pe is the dimensionless shear rate or Péclet number, owing to the decreasing contribution of Brownian forces to the viscosity. In the large Pe limit, remnants of Brownian diffusion balance convection in a boundary-layer in the compressive region of the flow. In consequence, the viscosity shear thickens when this boundary-layer coincides with the near-contact lubrication regime of the hydrodynamic interaction. Wakes are formed at large Pe in the extensional zone downstream from the reference particle, leading to broken symmetry in the pair correlation function. As a result of this asymmetry and that in the boundary-layer, finite normal stress differences are obtained as well as positive departures in the generalized osmotic pressure from its equilibrium value. The first normal stress difference changes from positive to negative values as Pe is increased when the hard-sphere limit is approached. This unusual effect is caused by the hydrodynamic lubrication forces that maintain particles in close proximity well into the extensional quadrant of the flow. The study demonstrates that many of the non-Newtonian effects observed in concentrated suspensions by experiments and by Stokesian dynamics simulations are present also in dilute suspensions.

Experimental Investigation of the Orthokinetic Coalescence Efficiency of Droplets in Simple Shear Flow

The coalescence efficiency of two droplets in simple shear flow was experimentally investigated. The effects of the radius of the colliding droplets, the viscosity of the continuous medium, and the radii ratio on the coalescence efficiency were studied. The coalescence efficiency was determined from the critical angle, αcrit, above which the droplets coalesce and below which no coalescence takes place. It was found that the coalescence efficiency decreases and then increases with the flow number. The theories of the drainage models and the trajectory analysis were unable to predict the experimental results. This was attributed to the inadequacy of the existing expression used for the critical film thickness. On the basis of the experimental data obtained a new expression for the critical film thickness was proposed. The new expression predicts a decrease followed by an increase in the critical film thickness. The increase in the critical film thickness is, perhaps, due to instabilities that take place at the interfaces. Implementing the proposed expression for the critical film thickness, the experimentally measured coalescence efficiency, the capture angle and the contact time were successfully predicted. The experimental investigation revealed that the coalescence efficiency does not depend on the radii ratio in the range 0.7 to 1. The experimental investigation also showed that the coalescence efficiency increases as the viscosity of the continuous phase decreases. Measuring the capture angle showed that coalescence can take place either in the compression or in the extensional quadrant of the shear plane. A variation in the capture angle and the contact time was observed for a given fixed set of conditions. The change of the angle α with time was measured. The measured values were compared to those calculated from an equation derived by R. S. Allan and S. G. Mason (J. Colloid Interface Sci.17, pp. 383, 1962). A good agreement was obtained when the droplets were of equal radii and small in size. When the droplets were large in size and of different radii, the agreement was not satisfactory. Measuring the distance between the centers of the colliding droplets showed that the two droplets vibrated when they came close to each other.

THE DIVERSITY OF LATE NEOGENE SEDIMENTARY BASINS GENERATED BY WRENCH FAULTING IN THE EASTERN BETIC CORDILLERA, SE SPAIN

In this paper, we review the types of sedimentary basins which are generated by wrench faulting with particular reference to the Late Neogene Eastern Betic Shear Zone, a well‐documented segment of the Trans‐Alboran Shear Zone. The general characteristics of this wrench “corridor” are described, including the role of inherited structures. The diversity of basin types is emphasised, as is the coexistence of basins which developed under compressional or extensional regimes.Pull‐apart basins do not appear to be the most widespread type of basin in the Eastern Betic Shear Zone. Rather, compressional “groove‐shaped synclines” which run parallel to master strike‐slip faults (regardless of their orientation or direction of movement) are more typical structures. They are characterised by intense synsedimentary deformation and reworking of sediments, depositional processes being dominated by gravity flows. The basins are relatively short‐lived and generally undergo structural inversion. Sedimentary basins also form in extensional areas, most significantly in the triangular zones which occupy the extensional quadrant of a pseudo‐ conjugate strike‐slip fault system.In the Eastern Betics, it appears that compressional basins are more efficient than extensional basins in terms of their subsidence and sedimentation rates, the thickness of the clastic fill, and the intensity of synsedimentary deformation. Compressional basins may therefore be the more favourable with respect to potential hydrocarbon accumulations.

Binary collision of drops in simple shear flow by computer-assisted video optical microscopy

The collision of two equi-sized drops immersed in an immiscible liquid phase undergoing a shear flow in a parallel plate apparatus has been investigated over a range of capillary numbers. The drops were observed along the vorticity direction of shear flow by video enhanced contrast optical microscopy. Images of the colliding drops were processed by image analysis techniques. The distance Δy between the drop centres along the velocity gradient direction was measured as a function of time during approach, collision and separation of the two drops. It was found that Δy increases irreversibly after collision, thus providing a mechanism for drop dispersion in a concentrated system. Drop shape evolution during collision was characterized by measuring a deformation parameter and the angle made by the drop major axis with respect to the velocity gradient direction. The extent of the near-contact region when the drops are sliding on each other was also estimated. Coalescence was a rare event and was observed in the extensional quadrant of the shear flow. The experimental results show good agreement with numerical simulations recently reported in the literature.

Collision of two deformable drops in shear flow

A boundary integral formulation is used to investigate the interaction between a pair of deformable drops in a simple shear flow. The interactions do not promote appreciably the breakup of the drops. For certain ratios of the viscosities of the drops and the suspending fluid, the lubrication gap that separates the two drops can diminish rapidly in the extensional quadrant of the flow. Slight deformation endows the drops with an apparent short-range repulsive interaction: drop coalescence requires van der Waals attraction which was not included in this study. From the trajectories of different collisions, the self-diffusion coefficients that describe the cross-flow migration of the non-Brownian drops in a dilute sheared emulsion are obtained. The self-diffusivities are very anisotropic, depend strongly on the viscosity ratio, and depend modestly on the shear rate.

Asymmetrical pull-aparts and foliation fish as kinematic indicators

From field observations, asymmetrical boudins, pinch-and-swell structures and ellipsoidal volumes of oblique foliation segments in anisotropic rocks lacking competent layers are potentially useful kinematic indicators in shear zones. They are derived by the modification of initially symmetrical pull-aparts and/or layering by superposed layer-parallel shearing. The response of boudins to such shear is a synthetic flow of those corner volumes lying within the extensional quadrants of the kinematic framework of the deformation into the inter-boudin gaps (Type 1 asymmetrical pull-aparts). The response of pinch-and-swell structure is a back-rotation of the ‘swells’ to form Type 2 asymmetrical pull-aparts. Discrete extensional shears in the ‘pinches’ may be either absent (Type 2A) or present (Type 2B). Analogues of Types 2A and 2B asymmetrical pull-aparts occur in anisotropic materials with no compositionally distinct competent members where ellipsoidal volumes contain back-rotated foliation segments (foliation fish). The field-based kinematic interpretation was successfully tested by laboratory experiment wherein initially symmetrical trains of pre-formed competent, internally anisotropic boudins and pinch-and-swell structures were deformed in bulk simple shear. A mechanical model is presented in terms of two material properties of the inclusions (competence/viscosity and internal rheological anisotropy) in an attempt to account for the observed flow in the experiments and the deduced flow and kinematic significance of the natural examples. In the presence of angular corners and associated geometrical stress concentrations, competence/viscosity controls the response to shear in the boudins. In the absence of angular corners, internal anisotropy controls the response to shear in the pinch-and-swell structures and in the foliation fish.