Three-dimensional finite-element simulation on stress and strain accumulation rates of major faults in the Sichuan-Yunnan region:A preliminary result
In the Sichuan-Yunnan region,China,many active faults have complex tectonic structures and relatively high seismicity.To know the stress and strain accumulation rates on these faults is significant work to assess the long-term seismic potential risk in the region.In this study,for major active faults in the region we construct a three-dimensional(3D)viscoelastic finite-element model(FEM)in which both the viscosity stratification of regional lithosphere and the heterogeneity of medium in horizontal and depth directions are considered.Using the average GPS horizontal velocity field from 1996 to 2018 to constrain lateral boundaries of the finite-element model,considering basal shear force beneath the Sichuan-Yunnan Block,the geodynamic response of the model to tectonic loading,i.e.the regional crust deformation features and stress accumulation rates associated with the these faults,was numerically simulated.For the area of the Sichuan-Yunnan Block and the western South China Block,the modeled horizontal velocity field fits the GPS observed velocity field very well,and the modeled principal stress orientations are mostly consistent with those inverted from earthquake focal mechanism solutions suggesting that both our FEM model and the simulated results have good reliability.We try to combine modeled stress accumulation rates with GPS/GNSS-observed strain rates to compute the distribution of elastic strain energy density that may reflect different degrees of strain accumulation in the crust of the region.We then discuss the connections among background stress rate,elastic strain energy density,Coulomb stress rate,and the occurrence of M≥6.0 earthquakes.The comparison shows that most M≥6.0 events since 1996 in Sichuan-Yunnan occurred on the major fault zones(or segments),where the modeled stress rates are either high or secondary high and the modeled strain energy density rates are moderate to medium-high,except for a few faults near the model's lateral boundaries where the stress rates show"singular values".While we were drafting and preparing this paper,two events,the M6.1 Lushan earthquake on 1st June 2022 and M6.8 Luding earthquake on 5th September 2022,occurred in Sichuan on the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault and the southernmost segment of the Xianshuihe fault,respectively,both of which have high accumulation rates of the modeled background stress and Coulomb stress.Our study suggests the potential seismic risk of those faults(zones or segments)with similar(high and secondary high)stress and strain accumulating rates,and so far without occurrence or record of strong earthquakes needs to be concerned.
3D viscoelastic modelFinite element methodFault stress accumulationElastic strain energy densityStrong-earthquake risk