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Abstract
Fault rupture propagation through uniform sand layers has received considerable attention. However, simulation of faulting in layered sands, considering different materials layered horizontally in different heights and arrangements, is seldom studied. This paper presents numerical analysis of dip-slip fault rupture propagation through sandy deposits with a non-linear finite element method with focus on four designed scenarios: (a) gradual changes of materials; (b) different heights of looser to denser materials; (c) existence of a thin layer of looser material within the sand layer; and (d) variations in the arrangements of layers. Significant engineering parameters, including the deformed shape of the ground surface and its inclination, fault trace location on the ground surface and width and centre of the distorted zone, are comparatively studied. The results show that the deformed shapes of the ground surface for uniform dense and loose sand stand as two limiting bounds while the deformed shape of other soil arrangements lies between these bounds. Similar bounds exist for other engineering parameters. Among different scenarios, the existence of a thin layer of looser material within the sand layer has little effect on the results. Moreover, the effect of fault dip angle is studied comprehensively on the pertinent results.