10.5880/fidgeo.2022.032 Zwaan, Frank Frank Zwaan 0000-0001-8226-2132 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Schreurs, Guido Guido Schreurs 0000-0002-4544-7514 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Madritsch, Herfried Herfried Madritsch National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra), Wettingen, Switzerland Herwegh, Marco Marco Herwegh 0000-0001-7323-4199 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ Data Services 2022 Tectonics Fault Rheology Alps Northern Alpine Foreland Basin Analogue modelling EPOS European Plate Observing System analogue models of geologic processes multi-scale laboratories property data of analogue modelling materials analogue modelling results software tools EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > TECTONICS > PLATE TECTONICS > PLATE BOUNDARIES EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > TECTONICS > PLATE TECTONICS > STRAIN Zwaan, Frank Frank Zwaan 0000-0001-8226-2132 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Zwaan, Frank Frank Zwaan 0000-0001-8226-2132 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Zwaan, Frank Frank Zwaan 0000-0001-8226-2132 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Zwaan, Frank Frank Zwaan 0000-0001-8226-2132 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Schreurs, Guido Guido Schreurs 0000-0002-4544-7514 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Schreurs, Guido Guido Schreurs 0000-0002-4544-7514 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Madritsch, Herfried Herfried Madritsch National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra), Wettingen, Switzerland Herwegh, Marco Marco Herwegh 0000-0001-7323-4199 Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Tectonic Modelling Laboratory at the Institute for Geological Sciences (TecLab Bern, Switzerland) dd35a3d4b656f3c9bb0d88fe2ff654a2 Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of Bern, Switzerland Zwaan, Frank Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Dataset 10.1186/s00015-022-00427-8 CC BY 4.0 This data set includes overviews depicting the surface evolution (time-lapse photography, topography analysis, digital image correlation [DIC] analysis), as well as and progressive physical cross-section analysis of 18 laboratory experiments (analogue models) testing the influence of rheologically weak layers (i.e. layers with [a component of] viscous behaviour) and basal fault kinematics on deformation in the weak layer’s overburden. This model set-up was inspired by the geological situation in the Swiss Alpine Foreland. All experiments were performed at the Tectonic Modelling Laboratory of the University of Bern (UB). Detailed descriptions of the model set-up preparation and results, as well as the monitoring techniques can be found in Zwaan et al. (in review).
We use a model set-up involving a deformable base to simulate a basal fault that induces deformation in an overlying weak layer, which itself is overlain by a more competent overburden (Figs. 1, 2). The total thickness of these model materials is 6.5 cm. The deformable base consists of a mobile and a fixed base plate that are both 2 cm thick, with the contact between these two base plates representing a steep, 75˚ dipping fault plane (or velocity discontinuity: VD). Furthermore, each base plate is attached to a longitudinal sidewall. The initial space between these longitudinal sidewalls is 30 cm, and the length of the model set-up is ca. 80 cm. The mobile base plate, together with the sidewall attached to it, can move outward (y-axis), downward (z-axis) and right-laterally (x-axis) by means of computer-controlled motors. By combining these three motion directions, we simulate pure normal dip-slip, 45˚ oblique normal dip slip, or pure dextral strike-slip fault kinematics (Fig. 1b, e). Furthermore, higher faults slip rates than the reference 10.4 mm/h can be applied.
Area of interest inspired by the geological situation in the Swiss Alpine Foreland 6 10.1 46 48 NAGRA (National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste)