Welcome to EARTHQUAKE,

EARTHQUAKE ›› 2009, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 149-163.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Surface Rupture Features and Segmentation of the MS8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake

ZHANG Jun-long, SHEN Xu-hui, XU yue-ren, PAN Xing-yang   

  1. 1. Insititute of Earthquake Science, CEA, Beijing 100036, China;
    2. Institute of Geology, China Seismological Bureau, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2008-10-07 Revised:2008-10-22 Online:2009-01-31 Published:2021-10-15

Abstract: Detailed field investigation showed that three seismogenic faults ruptured in the Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake, which are Beichuan-Yinxiu fault, Penxian-Guanxian fault, and Xiaoyudong fault. The Beichuan-Yinxiu fault is characterized by reverse faulting in the south and right-lateral faulting in the north, which lasted for 220 km long and vertically displaced 3 meters on average, and can be divided into three segments. The Penxian-Guanxian fault rupture is characterized by reverse faulting which is 5.6 km long and vertically displaced 1.5 meters on average, and can be divided into two segments. Xiaoyudong secondary fault is characterized by tear faulting and was formed in this earthquake, left-laterally faulted 5.6 km long with 1.5 m vertical displacement on average, which accommodated the different deformations of tectonic units on both side. The surface rupture on Yaodu town may show the different characteristics between Nanba segment and Beichuan segment. The geometry and motion mode indicate that the maximum horizontal main stress in this region is in the direction of NWW.

Key words: Wenchuan MS8.0 earthquake, Faulting, Surface rupture, Segmentation

CLC Number: