Shear fracture patterns and connectivity at geometric complexities along strike‐slip faults

Shear fracture patterns and connectivity at geometric complexities such as echelon fault steps and fault bends along strike‐slip faults are investigated by simulating shear fracture propagation paths using a displacement discontinuity boundary element method together with a maximum distortional strain energy density criterion. It is shown that shear fracture patterns and connectivity depend on the specific geometric configurations, the applied stress orientations and the coefficient of friction. For a given initial configuration of the major faults, the subsequent patterns of the associated shear fractures and their linkage can be predicted if the remote state of stress and the coefficient of friction are known. The analyses of fault geometries commonly encountered in nature have important implications for evaluating the effect of faults on fluid flow and earthquake hazards associated with the geometric complexities along strike‐slip faults in the upper crust.