Self-induced Deformation on the Fault Plane During an Earthquake Part II: Continuous Tangential Displacements

— This paper regards the on-fault displacement field generated by an earthquake on its own fault plane, with special attention to the tangential displacement vector. It is the continuation and the completion of a previous paper (Armigliato et al., 2003) concerning the analysis of the normal on-fault displacement component. It is here recognised that in addition to the discontinuous shear displacement, which is the main contribution to the seismic dislocation on the fault, there is a tangential displacement contribution that is continuous across the fault. The continuous tangential displacement is exclusively produced by the presence of the free earth's surface. The tangential displacement vector has non-vanishing components in both directions, parallel as well as perpendicular to the imposed uniform shear slip, the first being predominant on the second. We perform a set of computations aimed at evaluating the dependence of the tangential displacement magnitude on the relevant fault parameters for basic cases of rectangular faults embedded in a homogeneous half-space.     

Numerical Simulation of Displacement and Stress Fields Associated with the 1993 Kushiro-oki, Japan, Earthquake

—We constructed a three-dimensional finite element model to simulate coseismic and postseismic displacement and stress fields associated with the 1993 Kushiro-oki earthquake, which was a very large intermediate-depth earthquake that occurred within the subducted Pacific plate at a depth of 107 km beneath the southeastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. Taking the configuration of the subducted Pacific plate into account, we constructed a realistic model with lateral heterogeneity of viscoelastic structure. We assigned a variable slip distribution to the fault plane, which was obtained from inversion analysis of near-field seismic waveforms. The result shows that elastic deformation associated with the faulting reflects the assigned inhomogeneous slip distribution on the fault plane near the fault region, while it does not reflect the distribution on the free surface of the model. The calculated postseismic deformation does not reflect the slip distribution, but shows symmetric spatial patterns concerning the dipping direction of the fault both near the fault region and on the model surface. For the next 20 years following the earthquake, the amount of the calculated deformation is a fraction of the coseismic deformation. The calculated coeseismic deformation is large just above and below the fault plane, reaching 1 m, while the postseismic deformation is dominant near the upper and lower material boundaries between the subducted plate and the surrounding asthenosphere. The spatial distribution of maximum shear stress near the fault plane corresponds to the assigned slip distribution, amounting to 32 MPa. The directions of principal stress-change axes represent reverse fault type in the SSE region of the fault, whereas normal fault type is dominant in the NNW region with the exception of some asymmetrical spatial patterns of the principal stress-change axes on the fault due to the inhomogeneous slip distribution. Time variations both in the amount and the directions of stresses are minor, suggesting that the coseismic state of the stress would remain unchanged for two decades after the event.     

汶川MS 8.0地震地表破裂带

2008年5月12日14时28分4秒,四川省汶川县发生MS8.0大地震。发震断裂为龙门山断裂带中的映秀-北川断裂。该次地震的地表破裂可分成2条,分别出现在龙门山断裂带中的映秀-北川断裂、彭县-灌县断裂上,前者破裂长度约200km,后者破裂长度约80km。本次地震的最大垂直和右旋水平同震位移出现在都江堰市虹口乡附近的映秀-北川断裂上,分别为(5±0.2)m和(4.8±0.2)m。破裂带南段出露的地表断层产状为N32°E/NW∠76°,其上的侧伏角为S75°～80°W,反映了该次地震在南段以逆冲运动为主,兼有少量的右旋走滑分量     

THE RESEARCH OF THE SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE LUSHAN EARTHQUAKE BASED ON THE SYNTHESIS OF THE DEEP SEISMIC DATA AND THE SURFACE TECTONIC DEFORMATION

The seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake has remained in suspensed until now. Several faults or tectonics, including basal slipping zone, unknown blind thrust fault and piedmont buried fault, etc, are all considered as the possible seismogenic structure. This paper tries to make some new insights into this unsolved problem. Firstly, based on the data collected from the dynamic seismic stations located on the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault deployed by the Institute of Earthquake Science from 2008 to 2009 and the result of the aftershock relocation and the location of the known faults on the surface, we analyze and interpret the deep structures. Secondly, based on the terrace deformation across the main earthquake zone obtained from the dirrerential GPS meaturement of topography along the Qingyijiang River, combining with the geological interpretation of the high resolution remote sensing image and the regional geological data, we analyze the surface tectonic deformation. Furthermore, we combined the data of the deep structure and the surface deformation above to construct tectonic deformation model and research the seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake. Preliminarily, we think that the deformation model of the Lushan earthquake is different from that of the northern thrust segment ruptured in the Wenchuan earthquake due to the dip angle of the fault plane. On the southern segment, the main deformation is the compression of the footwall due to the nearly vertical fault plane of the frontal fault, and the new active thrust faults formed in the footwall. While on the northern segment, the main deformation is the thrusting of the hanging wall due to the less steep fault plane of the central fault. An active anticline formed on the hanging wall of the new active thrust fault, and the terrace surface on this anticline have deformed evidently since the Quaterary, and the latest activity of this anticline caused the Lushan earthquake, so the newly formed active thrust fault is probably the seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake. Huge displacement or tectonic deformation has been accumulated on the fault segment curved towards southeast from the Daxi country to the Taiping town during a long time, and the release of the strain and the tectonic movement all concentrate on this fault segment. The Lushan earthquake is just one event during the whole process of tectonic evolution, and the newly formed active thrust faults in the footwall may still cause similar earthquake in the future.     

盲断裂、褶皱地震与新疆1906年玛纳斯地震

１９０６年玛纳斯７．７级地震时沿准噶尔南缘断裂产生的地表破坏是由非构造成因的振动和重力效应而形成的。天山山前第二排逆断裂和褶皱带是这次地震的发震构造，沿带已发现了长约１３０ｋｍ的断续的地表破裂和最新隆起带。所以１９０６年玛纳斯地震是沿北天山主逆断裂带发生在深部的一次盲断裂地震。地表变形主要以褶皱隆起为主，是一次典型的“褶皱地震     

地震不稳定性的一个简单模型

基于断层面强度的非均匀性,将断层面的宏观破裂过程看作是断面局部微元的破裂累积过程,假设断层局部微元强度遵循Weibull概率分布,从统计力学角度推导出了宏观的断层载荷.变形的全过程本构关系.采用一维地震力学模型,以远场位移a为控制变量,用稳定性理论研究了地震不稳定性问题.研究表明,系统刚度比(围岩刚度与断层刚度之比)β是影响地震发生的重要参数,只有当β<1时才会出现地震失稳,且应力突跳发生在平衡路径曲线的位移转向点,并给出了地震过程的3个重要参数(地震后断层半错距、地震应力降和释放的弹性能)的表达式.当β≥1时,不会发生地震,仅是缓慢的断层滑动,属于无震滑动.     

隐伏逆断层破裂扩展特征的实验研究及其地震地质意义

通过模拟实验研究了逆断层活动过程中上覆沉积层的破裂扩展特征,采用投影条纹测试方法分析了沉积层表面离面(即垂直)位移场的演化过程。结果表明,在沉积层厚度和断层倾角一定的条件下,基岩中的逆断层逐渐向上扩展,并在沉积层表面围绕基岩断层上断点的投影线形成一个离面位移梯度带(即形变带),基岩断层的位移越大,沉积层中的形变带越宽、变形越强烈;但当断层扩展至沉积层表面后,形变带宽度将保持稳定,只是变形随断层位移增加而更集中。对于同样的基岩断层位移和断层倾角,沉积层厚度越大,受基岩断层控制的形变带越宽,即基岩断层的影响范围越大;当沉积层厚度超过某一临界值时,沉积层中会发育因隆起引起的表面拉张破裂。在沉积层厚度和基岩断层位移量一定的情况下,基岩断层倾角的增加将会使表面形变带的宽度减小,但会使变形破坏程度更强烈。实验结果意味着,临界断层位移、临界沉积层厚度以及断层倾角对于确定隐伏逆断层发震产生的地表变形和破坏特征具有重要意义。文中的研究结果有助于进一步认识汶川MS8.0地震的地表变形特征     

2016年阿克陶MS 6.7地震地表破裂特征和帕米尔现代构造应力场初步分析

帕米尔高原位于地中海－喜马拉雅地震带上,晚新生代以来随着印度板块向欧亚板块持续不断地挤压汇聚,其构造运动是欧亚大陆最强烈的地区。高原腹地发育一系列近SN向正断层,包括近SN向的塔什库尔干正断层所处的帕米尔中部现代区域的构造应力场以EW向水平拉张为主。2016年11月25日发生的阿克陶M_S 6.7级地震的发震构造为塔什库尔干断层分支的NWW向木吉盆地北缘断层,其具有右旋走滑兼正断性质。地震在震中附近产生同震地表形变带,全长约1km,呈近SN－NNE向水平拉伸,发育近EW—NWW向的张裂缝,为地震破裂的产物,张裂缝的最大水平拉伸位移量和最大垂直位移量分别为46cm和16cm。地表破裂带中的NE和NW向张剪裂缝只是连接贯通这些雁列的张裂缝,其水平相对位移量取决于张裂缝的水平拉伸量和张裂缝之间的几何关系。地表形变带表现的拉张性质与帕米尔高原腹地区域现代应力场最大主压应力为垂直向基本一致,可能与深部热物质上涌造成的上地壳拉伸有关。而地表形变带呈近SN向水平拉张,与区域近EW向拉张应力场之间存在显著差异,这可能是木吉盆地北缘右旋走滑正断层阶区局部应力场调整的结果。     

中小地震三维形变场重构方法研究与同震滑动分布反演——以2016年5月22日定日MW5.3地震为例

地震三维形变场对于研究地震发震机制等具有重要意义。 已有的InSAR三维形变场重构研究中, 只有中强地震的实例。 由于形变量级小、 InSAR方位向形变的误差较大, 中小地震的三维形变场重构易受噪声等影响。 本文以2016年5月22日西藏定日M_W5.3地震为例, 开展中小地震三维形变场重构的尝试。 首先基于InSAR技术获取了Sentinel-1升轨和降轨观测模式下的同震形变场, 再结合同震形变场的特点、 区域构造特征等, 添加限定方程(走滑运动为0), 重构了同震三维形变场。 结果显示, 震中附近以下降为主, 幅度达7 cm, 南北方向形变较小(约2 mm), 此区域还伴有2 cm的西向水平运动; 形变中心区域东西两侧部分区域均出现少许东向运动(1.5 cm)。 由同震形变场特征判断此次地震以正断破裂为主。 本文提出了基于连续性分层采样选取样本点方法, 以适应本地震形变场的实际情况。 对所得的LOS向位移场和重构的三维形变场进行降采样, 反演得到了断层面上的滑动分布, 两种数据得到的结果相似, 最优发震断层的走向约181°, 倾角约45°, 断层错动平均滑动角约-87.1°, 平均滑动量约为3.6 cm, 最大滑动量位于深度6.5 km处, 相当于一次M_W5.4的地震。     

断层错动引起的上覆土体破裂演化规律研究

断层引起的地面永久大变形是工程特别是生命线工程地震破坏的重要原因之一, 而研究断层错动下上覆土体变形和破裂的发展演化规律, 则是预测地面永久变形状态和分析断层危害性的基础． 本文采用有限元方法对垂直断层错动引起的上覆土体破裂演化规律进行了研究, 建立了垂直断层作用下上覆土体模拟的有限元模型, 对断层错动作用下上覆土体的破裂发展过程进行了模拟分析, 并分析了加载速率、 土体特性及断层倾角等参数对上覆土体的破裂演化发展过程的影响． 结果表明: ① 断层倾角越陡, 地表出现破裂时需要增加的垂直位移越大; ② 由于惯性力的影响, 断层加载速率对地表破裂所需施加位移和土层破裂角产生一定的影响; ③ 断层类型对土层地表破裂角与膨胀角、 摩擦角之间的关系有很大影响． 该分析结果可为新建工程的抗震设计和已建工程结构的抗震加固等工作提供依据．      

1812年尼勒克地震断层及最大位移

通过野外考察和地貌变形测量等手段,研究了尼勒克1812年8级地震的地震断层的平面分组特点、活动性质、分段特征,讨论了地震滑塌构造、地震断层与重力滑坡的区别,分析了线性滑坡后壁与地震断层的潜在关系。在正确区分地震断层和滑坡后壁的基础上,确定了地震断层的最大位移。该形变带从吉仁台延伸到乔尔马以东,东西总长124 km,南北最宽处约28 km,地震断层断续展布97 km,最大垂直错距为15 m,水平位移为4 m。     

The features of multiple fractures associated with the great Haiyuan 8.5 magnitude earthquake of 1920

It is deduced on the basis of field investigation that the total length of the stratigraphic fault associated with the great Haiyuan 8.5 magnitude earthquake of 1920 was 225 km. This fault was formed by 6 secondary faults with different geometric parameters, which align regularly inen echelon arrangement. Each secondary fault can be divided into three segments with different characteristics of deformation where the middle segment was mainly of the horizontal strike—slip fault while another two segments the vertical deformation as shown by the features of reverse or normal faults. It is also shown by the data of vertical and horizontal displacements that the horizontal displacement approached a maximum at the middle segment for each secondary fault and gradually decreased toward and finally disappeared at both ends of each segment while in contrast the vertical displacement was minimum at the middle and became large at both ends of the segment. The feature of the multiple peaks appeared in the deformation as shown by the earthquake displacements along the whole fault. This feature indicates that the 6 secondary faults associated with the great Haiyuan earthquake were the horizontal interrupted planes (i.e., dislocation surface) which were independent on each other, and hence each dislocation surface may represent an independent secondary fracture event of the earthquake. We thus think that the 6 relatively independent secondary events which occurred successfully might result in the great 8.5 magnitude Haiyuan earthquake. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,13, 21–31, 1991. This project is sponsored by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

断层地震孕育和发生的不稳定性模型

在以前的工作中,考虑直立走滑型断层地震,假设断层面微元破裂强度遵循Weibull概率分布,由细观力学方法推导出断层面的宏观本构关系是一个非线性函数,表现为弹性-软化塑性特征,在此基础上用稳定性理论研究了地震稳定性问题.而实际断层大多是倾斜的,为此,本文首先建立了由围岩和倾斜断层构成的平面地震力学模型,采用宏观的断层载荷-变形的全过程曲线,详细讨论了倾斜断层地震的不稳定性问题.结果表明,远场一旦施加位移,断层也同时错动,这可能与实际情况不符合.为了更好的模拟断层的初始能量累计过程,进一步对断层本构模型进行改进.考虑断层面破裂强度,采用Coulomb破裂准则,则断层表现为刚塑性本构关系,只有当断层面剪应力达到一个临界值时,断层才开始错动.研究表明,对于倾斜断层地震,与直立走滑型断层地震一样,系统刚度比β（围岩切线刚度与断层刚度最大值之比）是决定地震失稳的重要参数,只有当β<1时才会出现地震失稳,且伴随应力突跳和围岩应变能释放.当β≥1时,仅仅是断层无震滑动,不会发生地震.在远场应施以位移形式边界条件,以致地震失稳发生在平衡路径的位移转向点并伴有应力突跳.     

Coseismic Slip from the 6 October 2008, M w6.3 Damxung Earthquake, Tibetan Plateau, Constrained by InSAR Observations

Coseismic deformation fields of the 6 October 2008 M _w6.3 Damxung earthquake were obtained from interferometric synthetic aperture radar by using three descending and two ascending Envisat images. Significant coseismic surface deformation occurred within 20?km?×?20?km of the epicenter with a maximum displacement of ~0.3?m along the satellite line of sight. We model a linear elastic dislocation in a homogeneous half space and use a nonlinear constraint optimized algorithm to estimate the fault location, geometry and slip distribution. The results indicate a moment magnitude M _w6.3, and the earthquake is dominated by oblique normal and right-lateral slip with a maximum slip of 2.86?m at depth of 8?km. The rupture plane is about 15?km?×?14?km with strike S190°W and dip 55° to NW, located at a secondary fault of the Southeastern Piedmont of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains. Slip on normal faults in the Tibetan Plateau contributes to the rift evolution.     

InSAR analysis of a blind thrust rupture and related active folding: the 1999 Ain Temouchent earthquake (M w 5.7, Algeria) case study

We study the surface deformation associated with the 22 December 1999 earthquake, a moderate sized but damaging event at Ain Temouchent (northwestern Algeria) using Interferometric Satellite Aperture Radar images (InSAR). The mainshock focal mechanism solution indicates reverse faulting with a NE–SW trending rupture comparable to other major seismic events of this section of the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary. Previously, the earthquake fault parameters were, however, poorly known because no aftershocks were precisely determined and no coseismic surface ruptures were observed in the field. Using a pair of ERS data with small baseline and short temporal separation in the ascending orbit we obtained an interferogram that shows the coseismic surface displacement field despite poor coherence. The interferogram measures four fringes and displays an ellipse-shaped lobe with ∼11 cm peak line-of-sight displacement. The elastic modeling using a boundary element method (Poly3Dinv) indicate coseismic slip reaching up to 1 m at 5 km depth on the N 57° E trending, dipping 32° NW Tafna thrust fault. The geodetic estimate of seismic moment is 4.7 × 10¹⁷ N m. (Mw 5.7) in is good agreement with seismological results. The elliptical shape of the surface displacement field coincides with the NE–SW trending Berdani fault-related fold. The consistency between the geological observations and InSAR solution shed light on the precise earthquake location and related Tafna fault parameters.     

An asperity model to simulate rupture along heterogeneous fault surfaces

A model has been developed to simulate the statistical and mechanical nature of rupture on a heterogeneous strike-slip fault. The model is based on the progressive failure of circular asperities of varying sizes and strengths along a fault plane subjected to a constant far-field shear displacement rate. The basis of the model is a deformation and stress intensity factory solution for a single circular asperity under a unidirectional shear stress. The individual asperities are unified through the fault stiffness and the far-field stress and displacement. During fault deformation asperities can fail and reheal, resulting in changes in the local stresses in the asperities, stress drops, and changes in the stiffness of the fault. Depending on how the stress is redistributed following asperity failure and on the strenghts of the neighboring asperities an earthquake event can be the failure of one or more asperities. Following an earthquake event seismic source parameters such as the stress drop, energy change, and moment magnitude are calculated. Results from the model show a very realistic pattern of earthquake rupture, with reasonable source parameters, the proper magnitude-frequency behavior, and the development of characteristic earthquakes. Also the progression ofb-values in the model gives some insight into the phenomenon of self-organized criticality.     

鲜水河断裂带炉霍段的震后滑动与形变

1973年2月在鲜水河断裂带炉霍段发生了M7.6地震破裂.自那以来,先后在炉霍县虾拉沱布设了若干横跨该地震断层(1973年破裂带)的地壳形变观测系统,包括断层近场的短基线、短水准、蠕变仪、人工构筑物等,以及断层近-远场的GPS观测站.利用这些观测系统的长期观测资料,本文分析了鲜水河断裂带炉霍段的震后滑动/变形及其时、空变化特征,并建立起解释这些特征的动力学模式.研究表明:(1)1973年地震后的头5年,地震断层在虾拉沱场地表现为开放性质,近场的断层震后滑动以无震左旋蠕滑为主,速率达到10.27 mm/a,且伴有微量的拉张性蠕动作用;1979年以来,左旋蠕滑速率由5.3 mm/a逐渐减小到2.27 mm/a,减小的过程呈对数函数型,反映此阶段断层面已逐渐重新耦合、正朝闭锁的方向发展,并伴有部分应变积累.(2)1999年以来,地震断层两侧远场的相对左旋位移/变形速率为10 mm/a,远大于同时期断层近场(跨距40~144 m)的左旋蠕滑速率0.66~2.52 mm/a;远-近场位移/形变速率的显著变化发生在地震断层两侧各宽约30 km的范围,显示出这是与大地震应力应变积累-释放相关的断裂带宽度.(3)结合动力学背景与深部构造信息,本文对这里断层的震后位移/变形及其时、空变化的机理进行初步解释,要点是:震后约5年之后,由于逐渐增大的断层滑动/摩擦阻抗,上地壳脆性层中的断层面由震后初期的开放性质逐渐转向重新耦合、并朝闭锁的方向发展,但其两侧地块深部持续的延性相对运动拖拽着浅部脆性层发生相应的弹性位移/变形.(4)可估计再经历15~25年,研究断裂段将完全"闭锁",即进入积累下一次大地震应力应变的震间闭锁阶段.     

Analysis of Dynamic Characteristics of Crustal Horizontal Deformation in the South Segment of Longmenshan Fault Zone Revealed by GPS Data after the Wenchuan Earthquake

In order to obtain deformation parameters in the south segment of Longmenshan fault zone,Euler datum transformation and the least square collocation for data interpolation and smoothing are used to process GPS displacement time series data in the south segment of Longmenshan fault zone,and the rigid and elastic-plastic block motion model is used to calculate the strain parameters in each subarea. Conjoint analysis of displacement,velocity of each station and strain parameters of each subarea reveals that the influence of the Wenchuan earthquake on the south segment of Longmenshan fault zone increases from southeast to northwest,causing a highest deformation rate 6 times the background value and heightening the influence of the hidden faults on the difference of the earth surface along its two sides,which leads to the seismic risk of the southern segment increasing from north to south. The comparison of seismic risk among subareas based on the tectonic and seismicity background indicates that the most dangerous area is on the southeast of Longmenshan faults,and the background strain accumulation and the promoting effect of the Wenchuan earthquake advanced the occurrence of Lushan earthquake and the sinistral strike-slip on the rupture plane. The Wenchuan earthquake also caused a slight two-year long continuous strain release in the south segment of Xianshuihe fault,but the influence is far less than the effect of the compressive strain caused by the Sichuan-Yunnan block.     

Numerical simulations of deformation and movement of blocks within North China in response to 1976 Tangshan earthquake

Using methods of discontinuous deformation analysis and finite element (DDA+FEM), this paper simulates dynamic processes of the Tangshan earthquake of 1976, which occurred in the northern North China where its internal blocks apparently interacted. Studies focus upon both the movement and deformation of the blocks, in particular, the Ordos block, and variations of stress states on the boundary faults. The Tangshan earthquake was composed of three events: slipping motions of NNE-striking major fault, NE-striking fault near the northeastern end of the NNE-striking fault, and NW-striking fault on the southeastern side of the NNE-striking fault. Compared with previous studies, our model yields a result that is more agreeable with the configuration of aftershock distributions. A number of data are presented, such as the principle stress field during the earthquake, contours of the maximum shear stress, the strike-slip deformation between blocks near the earthquake focus, time-dependent variations of slips of earthquake-triggered faulting, the maximum slip distance, and stress drops. These results are in accord with the earthquake source mechanism, basic parameters from earthquake wave study, macro-isoseismic line, observed horizontal displacement vectors, etc. The Tangshan earthquake exerted different influences on the adjacent blocks and boundary faults between them, thus resulting in differential movement and deformation. The Ordos block seems to have experienced the small-scale counterclockwise rotation and deformation, but its northeast part, bounded on the east by the Taihangshan and on the north by the Yanshan and Yinshan belts, underwent relatively stronger deformation. The Tangshan earthquake also changed the stress state of boundary faults of the North China, leading to an increase in shear stress and a decrease in normal stress in the NW-trending Zhangjiakou-Penglai fault through Tangshan City and the northern border faults of the Ordos block, and therefore raises the potential risk of earthquake occurrence. This result is supported by the facts that a series of Ms≥ 6 earthquakes took place at the northern margin of the Ordos block after the Tangshan earthquake.     

Numerical simulations of deformation and movement of blocks within North China in response to 1976 Tangshan earthquake

Using methods of discontinuous deformation analysis and finite element (DDA+FEM), this paper simulates dynamic processes of the Tangshan earthquake of 1976, which occurred in the northern North China where its internal blocks apparently interacted. Studies focus upon both the movement and deformation of the blocks, in particular, the Ordos block, and variations of stress states on the boundary faults. The Tangshan earthquake was composed of three events: slipping motions of NNE-striking major fault, NE-striking fault near the northeastern end of the NNE-striking fault, and NW-striking fault on the southeastern side of the NNE-striking fault. Compared with previous studies, our model yields a result that is more agreeable with the configuration of aftershock distributions. A number of data are presented, such as the principle stress field during the earthquake, contours of the maximum shear stress, the strike-slip deformation between blocks near the earthquake focus, time-dependent variations of slips of earthquake-triggered faulting, the maximum slip distance, and stress drops. These results are in accord with the earthquake source mechanism, basic parameters from earthquake wave study, macro-isoseismic line, observed horizontal displacement vectors, etc. The Tangshan earthquake exerted different influences on the adjacent blocks and boundary faults between them, thus resulting in differential movement and deformation. The Ordos block seems to have experienced the small-scale counterclockwise rotation and deformation, but its northeast part, bounded on the east by the Taihangshan and on the north by the Yanshan and Yinshan belts, underwent relatively stronger deformation. The Tangshan earthquake also changed the stress state of boundary faults of the North China, leading to an increase in shear stress and a decrease in normal stress in the NW-trending Zhangjiakou-Penglai fault through Tangshan City and the northern border faults of the Ordos block, and therefore raises the potential risk of earthquake occurrence. This result is supported by the facts that a series of Ms ≥ 6 earthquakes took place at the northern margin of the Ordos block after the Tangshan earthquake.