Mechanics of Shale Deformation in Thrust Fault Zones

逆冲板运动的力学模型采用了关于断裂带强度和流变学的各种假设。然而，很少有观测资料可以约束断裂带流变学的选择。这项研究旨在确定逆冲断裂带中页岩变形的特征和机制，并更好地了解逆冲片的运动方式。野外、实验和理论相结合的方法将应用于蒙大拿西北部和邻近的阿尔伯塔的刘易斯逆冲断层的两个暴露。自然和实验变形的页岩组构的相关性将与理论相结合，用于解释页岩中典型的非线性流变以及相关的逆冲片基底变形的强度和非均质性。

Mechanical models of thrust sheet motion employ a variety of assumptions about fault zone strength and rheology. However, there are few observations available to constrain the choices of fault zone rheology. This research is designed to determine the character and mechanics of shale deformation in thrust fault zones and a way to better understand how thrust sheets move. A combined field, experimental and theoretical approach will be applied to two exposures of the Lewis thrust fault in northwestern Montana and adjacent Alberta. Correlation of naturally and experimentally deformed shale fabrics in combination with theory will be used to explain the typical nonlinear rheology in shale and associated intensity and heterogeneity of deformation at the bases of thrust sheets.