Abstract
A distinction has been made between plane strain and plane stress fracture conditions in metals. In these materials flat fracture normal to the tensile stress develops in plane strain. However, the fracture is slanted when conditions change to plane stress. Analogies with rock mechanics suggest a simple model of en echelon cracking along fringes of vertical joints in thin horizontal sedimentary layers. According to this model, the en echelon cracking is a result of fracture under plane stress conditions, when failure is explained by the Coulomb criterion and subject to limited overburden.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 61-67 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Tectonophysics |
Volume | 196 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 20 Sep 1991 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Earth-Surface Processes