Laboratory investigations on fault plane induced tensile cracks

Summary Tensile cracks induced by stress concentration around a fault plane in physical models under uniaxial load were analyzed. The results characterizing the decisive role of the fault plane inclination to the the stress direction are presented. Two stages of tensile crack life were determined, i.e. the first, seismoactive stage, accompanied by seismic energy release and the second aseismic one characterized by low velocity of crack propagation. Results obtained seem to be relevant to a better understanding of the character and regime of actual seismoactive faults.