Extensional stresses in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera fold-and-thrust belt (northern Andes): insights from 2D finite element modeling
Keywords:
Finite element (FE) modeling, Elastic rock properties, Convergent displacement, Extensional stress field, Colombian Eastern CordilleraAbstract
Deformation and stress characteristics in the upper crust of the fold-and-thrust belt in the Colombian EasternCordillera were investigated by numerical analysis. The structural trend of Colombian Eastern Cordillera has
long been considered a possible example of a true contraction orogen. The issue of the convergent displacement
along an elastic structural body, which controls present-day deformation in this Cordillera is examined here.
Modeling results are presented in terms of three parameters: 1) distributions, orientations, and magnitudes of
principal stresses; 2) maximum shear stress (τmax) contour; and 3) proximity to failure of elements within faults.
Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria with bulk rock properties are applied to analyze the faults. The model shows
extensional stresses in the crust at shallow crustal levels (from surface to about 6 km) despite overall contraction,
and contraction at depth is confirmed. Measurement results indicate that, for homogeneous crustal thickening,
extensional stresses are concentrated in the Servita half-gaben and Bucaramanga fault systems, where the
vertical thrust faults and thickening processes are located. Our two-dimensional (2D) modeling results emphasize
that extensional stresses are still active along the vertical to sub-vertical fault system in the fold-and-thrust
belt of the Colombian Eastern Cordillera.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright
The commercial rights of the printed and online versions of Geologica Acta are property of the UB, ICTJA, IDAEA and UAB, and Geologica Acta must be cited for any partial or full reproduction.
The opinions and conclusions stated in each article are the exclusive responsability of the authors and do not necessarily coincide with those of the above mentioned institutions UB, ICTJA, IDAEA and UAB.
Author Rights
Authors retain the copyright on their papers (accepted manuscript, uncorrected proof and published paper) and are authorized to post them on their own Web page or their institutional repositories. In all cases, the complete citation and a link to the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the article must be included.
The authors can use excerpts or reproduce illustrations of their papers in other works without prior permission of Geologica Acta provided the source of the paper including the complete citation is fully acknowledged.
Papers are distributed under the Attribution-Share Alike Creative Commons License. This license allows others to alter, remix or build upon a paper and the resulting work may be distributed under the same or similar license to this one.
