Focal Mechanism Solutions of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence from P-wave polarities and SH/P amplitude ratios: new results and implications

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a major intraplate earthquake with M _w 7.9, occurred on the slowly deforming Longmenshan fault. To better understand the causes of this devastating earthquake, we need knowledge of the regional stress field and the underlying geodynamic processes. Here, we determine focal mechanism solutions (FMSs) of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence (WES) using both P-wave first-motion polarity data and SH/P amplitude ratio (AR) data. As P-wave polarities are more reliable information, they are given priority over SH/P AR, the latter of which are used only when the former has loose constraint on the FMSs. We collect data from three categories: (1) permanent stations deployed by the China Earthquake Administration (CEA); (2) the Western Sichuan Passive Seismic Array (WSPSA) deployed by Institute of Geology, CEA; (3) global stations from Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. Finally, 129 events with magnitude over M _s 4.0 in the 2008 WES are identified to have well-constrained FMSs. Among them, 83 are well constrained by P-wave polarities only as shown by Cai et al. (Earthq Sci 24(1):115–125, 2011), and the rest of which are newly constrained by incorporating SH/P AR. Based on the spatial distribution and FMSs of the WES, we draw following conclusions: (1) the principle compressional directions of most FMSs of the WES are subhorizontal, generally in agreement with the conclusion given by Cai et al. (2011) but with a few modifications that the compressional directions are WNW–ESE around Wenchuan and ENE–WSW around Qingchuan, respectively. The subhorizontal compressional direction along the Longmenshan fault from SW to NE seems to have a left-lateral rotation, which agrees well with regional stress field inverted by former researchers (e.g., Xu et al., Acta Seismol Sin 30(5), 1987; Acta Geophys Sin 32(6), 1989; Cui et al., Seismol Geol 27(2):234–242, 2005); (2) the FMSs of the events not only reflected the regional stress state of the Longmenshan region, but also were obviously controlled by the faults to some extent, which was pointed out by Cai et al. (2011) and Yi et al. (Chin J Geophys 55(4):1213–1227, 2012); (3) while the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks released most of the elastic energy accumulated on the Longmenshan fault, some other aftershocks seem to occur just for releasing the elastic energy promptly created by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks. (4) Our results further suggest that the Longmenshan fault from Wenchuan to Beichuan was nearly fully destroyed by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and accordingly propose that there is less probability for great earthquakes in the middle part of the Longmenshan fault in the near future, although there might be a barrier to the southwest of Wenchuan and it is needed to pay some attention on it in the near future.     

2008年新疆乌恰6.8级地震序列震源特征及帕米尔东北缘应力场研究

本文使用新疆区域数字地震台站记录的宽频带长周期数字波形资料,在时间域反演了2008年10月5日新疆乌恰6.8级地震的强余震及其周围先后发生的52次中等强度地震的矩张量解,结合Harvard大学在该区域的地震矩张量结果,研究了帕米尔东北缘的应力场分区特征.研究结果显示,位于印度板块向欧亚板块推挤的前缘及向北凸出的弧型构造的最北缘的卡兹克阿尔特弧形活动褶皱-逆断裂带,以逆冲推覆活动为主,并有部分走滑类型的地震,基本不存在正断层类型的地震;该弧型构造近东西走向的顶部(文中的西区)与其北西走向的东侧(文中的东区)的局部应力场最大主压应力方向不同,分别为NW、NNE方向,显示出在承受印度板块向欧亚板块俯冲作用的同时,东区也更多的受到了塔里木块体顺时针旋转作用的影响.位于帕米尔陆内俯冲和变形作用强烈、碰撞造成深源地震带东段的南区,地震以走滑错动为主, 逆断、正断层都有,显示出相对复杂的应力状态.位于帕米尔高原内部的西区和南区的应力场最大主压应力方向一致,由北向南,由最大主压应力轴接近水平,过渡为最大主张应力轴接近水平,一定程度揭示了板块俯冲的状态.结合南区和西区的地震深度差异及机制解中断层面的倾角,推测在中帕米尔的东部,由北向南的板块俯冲至150~170km深度,俯冲角度为60°左右.     

四川自贡-隆昌地区注水诱发地震研究

基于2007年1月-2010年8月四川自贡地方数字测震台网和流动台站记录的地震观测资料,并结合注水井(家33井)的加压注水数据,研究了自贡-隆昌地区三个丛集区域(A、B、C)地震活动与家33井注水压力及注水量的相关性,同时从注水区域及邻区局部应力状态呈现的差异研究其发震机理.结果表明:家33井加压注水对其所在的B区地震活动具有明显的调控作用,负压注水阶段,注水量对地震活动的影响不大,地震活动处于较弱状态;加压注水阶段,在压力持续升高的背景下,地震活动明显增强,其频次、强度与注水量呈现较好的相关性.研究区三次4级地震震源较浅、且均为逆冲型,震源机制节面与其震中附近断层走向一致.基于大量小震震源机制解,统计获得B区震源机制节面走向和P轴方位较A区相对离散;与川东南地区已有应力场结果相比,反演获得的B区主压应力方位较A区扰动偏大,可见在统一应力场的作用下,A、B区域小震震源机制解节面走向、P轴方位及反演得到的局部区域应力场呈现出的差异,与家33井加压注水有一定的关系.     

安庆4.8级地震序列的地震波谱变化研究

采用安徽区域数字地震台网记录的安庆4.8级地震序列波形资料,开展地震波谱研究,求取了零频位移谱值、应力降和地震矩等震源参数。分析了纵、横波零频谱值比和应力降随时间的变化趋势,并讨论了震源参数之间的关系。结果表明,安庆4.8级主震后,纵、横波零频位移谱值比和应力降呈现一定的变化规律,可为主震—余震序列的最大余震的预测提供一定的参考依据,同时发现震源参数与震级有一定相关。     

利用非均匀细胞自动机模拟震级与应力降关系

为解释实际观测资料震源破裂过程与自相似(分形)模型的不一致性, 本文基于观测结果, 构建了由81×81个细胞单元组成二维非均匀断层模型, 并通过设计的细胞自动机模拟程序进行了模拟试验。 研究结果表明: 断层结构非均匀性是影响孕震过程特征的重要因素, 而且地震强度分布并非简单的自相似。 随着断层非匀质性增加, 破裂过程出现由相对的脆性破坏向塑性破坏特征变化的趋势。 利用细胞自动机不仅能较好地解释震级-频度关系中的大、 小震级段低头现象, 而且也可解释大震级事件具有相对恒定的应力降, 得到了与实际观测研究相一致的结果。     

沂沭断裂带构造区光弹实验与地震危险区判定研究

在对沂沭断裂带的地质构造环境、断裂带分布特征进行详细分析的基础上,采用聚碳酸酯材料制成沂沭断裂带构造区域的地质模型,分别运用集中、2点和均布等加载方式,使用光弹实验方法模拟特定构造框架下应力、应变场的变化特征。通过对光弹实验数据的分析,在对比不同加载方式下应力积累区域和地震危险区的基础上判定沂沭断裂带构造区中的地震危险区域。     

An experiment on temperature variations in sandstone during biaxial loading

The temperature response to stress–strain variations in rock is useful in developing an understanding of the thermodynamic property of crust. In this study, the temperature of sandstone during loading was investigated using laboratory biaxial testing. By changing the loading patterns, the deformation of a specimen was controlled to produce two distinct modes of strain: volume strain only and shear strain only. These strain modes were produced separately such that the temperature variation associated with the different deformation modes could be analysed. Experimental results indicate that temperature, as a scalar quantity, is notably sensitive to rock deformation. In the case of the volume strain, the temperature variation is positively correlated with the variation in the bulk stress. The temperature rises with the increase in hydrostatic pressure, and vice versa. In the case of the shear strain, experimental results repeatedly show two characteristics: firstly, there appears obvious increase in temperature in the area of pure shear strain, which is most likely related to local plastic deformation; secondly, the temperature drops in the area of tension during loading, whereas the temperature rises within the area of compression. This is to say, the state of crustal stress–strain should be obtained through the measurement of rock temperature.     

Dynamic responses of a saturated poroelastic half-space generated by a moving truck on the uneven pavement

A truck–pavement–ground coupling model was established to study the dynamic responses of a saturated poroelastic half-space generated by a moving heavy truck on the uneven pavement. The ground was simulated as a fully saturated poroelastic half-space governed by Biot’s theory. The overlying pavement was simplified as a Kirchhoff thin plate. With the assumption of a sinusoidal pavement surface, the dynamic wheel–pavement force was obtained through a linear Hertizian contact model. The numerical results showed that this dynamic load could make considerable contributions to the stress and excess pore water pressure responses in the ground. Furthermore, the effective stress path of the soil unit beneath the pavement caused by the moving truck was firstly calculated and presented. It was found that the differences between the total stress path and the effective stress path became significant as the truck speed increased, thus the effective stress path was more suitable than total stress path to reflect the stress history of soil elements in the saturated ground during the passage of high-speed traffics.     

2008年盈江地震序列的震源参数和震源机制相关系数研究

基于云南数字地震台网记录的2008年盈江地震序列的数字波形资料,采用波谱分析方法和Brune震源模型,得到盈江地震序列的震源参数。利用两次地震事件的相同台站的震源谱参数（零频振幅）计算谱振幅相关系数,据此对地震的震源机制进行聚类分组,并收集和对比地震序列已知的震源机制解结果,发现每组内震源机制解P轴的相关性较好,且相关系数越大,P轴的方位角就越接近。将盈江地区划分为三个研究区,联合震源参数的应力降和聚类分组中每组的平均震源机制解结果研究地震序列发生过程中应力的释放水平和应力场方向变化特征。结果表明：不同阶段震源机制解类型的变化和转化特征一定程度上反映了孕震过程中区域应力场随时间的变化特征,并且地震震源机制解类型在时间段上的集中并向区域构造应力场方向转换的现象可能是发生强震的标志。震源机制解分组类型和对应类型的地震的应力降有一定依赖关系,震源机制解类型反映的应力场与区域应力场接近的地震应力降高,震源机制解类型反映的应力场与区域应力场差距较大的地震应力降普遍较低。     

Numerical simulation of fracture path and nonlinear closure for simultaneous and sequential fracturing in a horizontal well

Reservoir stimulation requires a model to evaluate the fracture path and closure for the simultaneous or sequential propagation of the hydraulic fracture (HF). This paper presents a fluid-solid coupled model to simulate multi-stage HF propagation. A non-linear joint model is proposed to evaluate the fracture closure when the created fractures are elastically propped. HF closure continues until the balance of external stress matches the proppant's resistance. The reservoir along the horizontal wellbore is not stimulated equally by the multi-stage fracturing. The HFs in the subsequent stage are ‘repelled’ and restrained by the HFs in the previous stage.