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先存断层倾角对断层活化特征的影响——基于离散元数值模拟实验

The Influence of Pre-existing Fault Dip Angle on Fault Activation Characteristics: Insights from Discrete Element Method (DEM) Numerical Simulation Experiments

Environment and Resource / 2026,8(1): 12-17 / 2026-02-26 22 13

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• Authors: 张渝 余养里
• Information:

  西南石油大学地球科学与技术学院，成都

• Keywords:
  Pre-existing fault; Fault dip angle; Fault activation; Discrete element method; Numerical simulation
  先存断层; 断层倾角; 断层活化; 离散元; 数值模拟
• Abstract: Pre-existing fault activation is a key inducing factor of geological disasters in engineering construction and mineral resource development. As a core parameter controlling the mechanical properties of faults, the influence law of fault dip angle on activation characteristics remains to be clarified urgently. To reveal this mechanism, this study adopted the discrete element method (DEM) simulation software ZDEM and designed four groups of comparative experiments with fault dip angles of 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. The activation process, strain distribution, and failure mode of faults under different dip angle conditions were systematically analyzed. The results show that: the 45° dip angle fault initiates activation the earliest (with a critical compression of only 4.5 km), and its activation process is the most intense with significant concentration of shear strain; the 15° low-dip angle fault is dominated by vertical compressive strain, forming a wide and gentle fold-fracture assemblage; the 30° dip angle fault has the densest secondary fractures with well-developed shear fracture zones; the 60° high-dip angle fault eventually forms a “Y”-shaped fracture assemblage, and the dip angle of the main fault deflects significantly. This study quantitatively reveals the influence of fault dip angle on activation threshold, strain distribution, and failure mode, and provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for engineering stability evaluation and disaster prevention and control in areas with pre-existing faults. 先存断层活化是工程建设与矿产开发中引发地质灾害的关键诱因，断层倾角作为控制断层力学特性的核心参数，其对活化特征的影响规律亟待明确。为揭示该机制，本文采用离散元模拟软件ZDEM，设计断层倾角为15°、30°、45°、60°的4组对比实验，系统分析不同倾角条件下断层的活化过程、应变分布及破坏模式。结果表明：45°倾角断层活化启动最早（临界挤压量仅4.5km），活化过程最剧烈，剪切应变集中显著；15°低倾角断层以垂向压缩应变为主，形成宽缓的褶皱断裂组合；30°倾角断层次级破裂最密集，剪切破碎带发育；60°高倾角断层最终形成“Y”字型断裂组合，主断层倾角发生明显偏转。研究明确了断层倾角对活化阈值、应变分布及破坏模式的量化影响规律，为含先存断层区域的工程稳定性评价与灾害防控提供了理论依据与技术参考。
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/er.0801002 (registering DOI)
• Cite: 张渝，余养里．先存断层倾角对断层活化特征的影响——基于离散元数值模拟实验［J］．环境与资源，2026，8（1）：12-17.