The Use of the Fault Striation Analysis Method in

Engineering Geology to Determine In Situ Stress Axes

0 Uso do Mktodo de AdEise de ES& de Falhs para Determhr
Eixos de Tenscio In Situ em Geologia de Engenharia
UtiIizaci6n del Metodo de Analisis de Estrias en Fallas para
determinacidn de tensiones In Situ en Ingenieria Geol6gica
Georg R. Sadowski, PhD.
Consultant Engineering Geologist
Abstract. The mathematical delenninalion of tectonic stresses through fault strialion analysis has been considered
as a promising methodology. However, it has some serious limitations. The numerically complex solutions may
inismpresent the actual state of stress in the local crust and, before taking them into consideration, specially in c w s of
engineering design, one should bear in mind that even accurately obtained smss axes orientations, are due to states of
stress related to a far remote geological past. Alternatively. even if the obtaind regional tectonic stress axes are real, in
a local human activity scale, the swe of smss may be totally diverse. being a resullant of h e overprint of near-surface
relief effects induced through excavations, natural erosion or spurious residual stresses that distort the regional stress
trajectories.

To evaluate the results of fault-slip analyses, sizable simple structural geological models and fieldconmlld slope
failures were chosen. The used examples are related to faults with a rigid block rotation component (rotational faults).
gravity spoon shaped (listric) fault mbdels with and without lateral Aide ramps and two slope failures.
Some of the obtained principal stress axes show incongruent intermediate positions, mainly related t the bare stadstical
matmen1 of he data. This suggests the need of a more detailed interactive control of the patterns of the regional
deformation and the check by other more direct methads (CSlRO. borehde breakouts, hydraulic fracturing etc.) before
the acceptance of the calculated results.
Resumo. A detenninuqh de rens6es tectdnicas mediante a mdlise de estrias de falhas tern sido considerado
u r n metodoIogia promissora por diversos arttorex. No entanto, apresenra algumas limiru@es sPrias que ndo
podem ser esquecidas. As complexas solq6es numkricas podem represenfur incorrefamente o estodo de tens6es
aruante na crosta local AOS cases em que ncio levem em consideraqGo alguns aspectos meramente matemdticos
inerentes d metodologia adoradu. Outrossim. mesmo quc as arirudes de rensbes tecf6nicas regionais deteminadas
sejom por acaso realistas, elas nEio s& necessariamcnte representarivas daqsrelas atuantes em escala de obra,
onde o estado de teruks pode ser rnuito diwrso, resultante da sobreposi$80 de efeiros de alfviosde supeflcie
associados & emsao, escava~aoosc tensdes residuais espdrias. Por ourro lado. em Geologia, costuma-se
represenlor urn esrado de tens6es vincuiado a unt passado geoldgico remoto e de pouco inreresse imedialo.
No sentido de avaliar o resultado de tais anrilises & farma ilustmriva,foram escolhidos tnodeios geoidgicos
simples e acessfveis de rupturos contmladas de taludes. 0 s exemplos podem ser relacionadus a falhas corn
componente de rorardo de bloco rigido @has rotacionais),falhas de gmvidade listticar ou emforma de colher,
corn ou sem rampas latereis, bem como dois desiizamantos de ralude. Aiguns dos resultadus obridos mosframm
eixos de tensdo em posi@es intennedidrias incongmenres, relacionado principalmenre a urn tratampnto esrarl~icosupersimpi~~cado
dou a apenas aparente simplicidade das mrilliplas cinemdticas presentes. O mdtodo
impiica aceirar restriqces associ6veis ao mode10 numJrico e mecrinico quefrequentemenre deixam de ser levadas
em conta. Comu exempiu mmciona-se a inremclia enrre as difewnresfamilias de fraruras e a necessidade de gue

os wtores de deslocamento sejam similares em mddulo. As considera$&s q u i desenvolvi&s sugsrem a necessic h k de wn conrrole iterativo mais deralhadodas merodologiasutilitadus e, no m fnimo, t
m conhecimentoapumdo
do p a d o & deforma@o regional. Em caso de sua utiliem projetos de engenharia geoldgica, condm um
controle por outras metodologias mmo as utilem m e d i ~ 6 sdiretas de tens&s em m40s (CSIRO,
"breakouts"ak furos de sondagem, rarpruras hidrbulicm erc.).

R ~ u m e nL. a dcterrninaci6n de las msiones mt6nicasmediaateel anhlisis de esrrias de fallas hay sido oonsiderada
una metodologfa promisoria par diversos aurores. Entretantdl presenta algunas limimiones serias qut no p&n ser
olvidadas. Las complejas soluciones numricas pueden repwntar incorrectamenteel cstado de tcnsiones actuante en
la corteza l d en 10s casos en que no se tome en consideraci6n algunos aspeetos meramente materndticm inherentes a
la metodologia adoptada, M,
frecuentemenk representan cinemhticas ocurridas en tiernpos geol6giws rernotos
quc son de poco i n t d s en proyectos de ingenieria. Altemativamente, mismo que 10s ejes de tensiones tect6nicas
regionalesestimadw sean pot acaso verdadem, en la escalade actividad humana local el atado de tensiones pubde ser
rnuy distinb y resultantede la sobreposici6n de factarespuntualescomoel alivio de tensiones asociadoa efectos erosivos,
excavaciones o tensiones residuales espurias.
Con el objetivo de hacer una evaluacidn ilustrativa de tales analisis, fuemn eswgidos rnDdelos geol6gims sencillos y
accesibles de ruptum controladas de taludes. Los ejemplos utilizados pueden sw mferidos a fallas con componentesde
rotaci6n de blquc rigida (failas mtaeionales), fallas gravitacionales dei tipo listrim o en f o m de cuchara, con y sin
rampas laterales, y de 10s deslizamientos de taludes. Alguws de 10s resultados obtenidos con el uso de 10s dtodos
tradicionales indicaron posicianes intermedias ineongruentes relacionadas principalmente a la falta de muamiento
estadistico ponderado, como tambiCn debido a la exccsiva simplifieaci6n de Ias mfiltiples cinematicas presentes. El
d k i d o presenta restriociones asmiadas a1 modelo numrico y mechico que comunrnente no son tornadas en cuenta
coma, entre o t w , la necesidad de interacci6n entre las diferentes fmturas y de que 10s v w r c s de movimiento de las
fallas sean similares en m6dulo. Concluyese que las metadoIogias utilizadas necesitan de un control interactive rnBs
severo y detallado del padr6n & deformaci6n regional. En caso & su utiIizaci6n en proyeems de ingenieria geoldgica
conviene mnmlarla por otras metodologias como las usuales utilizadas para rnedicibn directa de tensiones (CSIRO,
ubreakouts" de hoyos de sondajc, ruptura hi&ulica em.)

I. Introduction
Between the different existing techniques used
to establish the best guess about the state of stress
in the crust (ovemring, hydrofracturing slit cIosure, flatjack, drillhole breakouts, earthquake soIutions etc.), identification of conjugate fractures and
as
fault shatian anaivsjs have heen
means of
least h e ~ l a t i v espatial position of the main axes and the form of the stress
tensor.
Before taking the fault-shiatioo analysis into
consideration, specially, in what concerns its use in
engineering &sign, it has to be reminded that even
accurately obtained stress axes orientationsmay be
related to tectonic states of stress of a far remow
geologicd past. Alternatively, even if the obtained
regional tectonic stress axes are realistic, in w local
human activity scale, the state of stress may be
totally diverse, being a resultant of the overprint of
near surface relief effects induced through excava-

tions, natural erosion or even spurious residua1

stresses that distort the regional stress trajectories.
The search for the orientation of regional tectonic stresses using fault-striation analyses remounts to temptative approaches proposed by
Anderson (195 11, Wallace (195 11, Bolt ( 1969) and
Anhaud (19691,aiming to find the main axes of the
~ B C ~ O " ~S-SC
ellipsoid responsible for a system of
ged~gicaldiscontinuities. The methods gradually
evolved into the needs of application of tensorial
caIculus and inversion techniques hrrowed from
Continuum Mechanics and Geophysics. GraduaIIy
the easy rritical undentanding of the methodology
obscured by its inherent complexity.
To obtain a dearersight of the limitationsof the
avoiding
cumbersome
cal technicalities. it was chosen to test it on sizable
simple sbuctud~goologicalmdels and field-controlled dope failures,
The data were quantitatively analyzed by the
Direct Inversion Method and similar methods {Angelier, 1990; Spemer et al.. I993 etc.).

,
,

The Use or he Fault Stridon Analysis M o d in EngineeringGeology m Dewmine In Siiu S m s Ax-

1.1. General overview of the evolution of

knowledge

Since the first half of the XXth century the

evolution of Rock Mechanics allowed to pursue a
better understanding of the kinematic and dynamic
nature of geological structures. See for example
Knopf and Ingerson (1 9381, Griggs (1 938), Knopf
(19461, De Cizmcourt (1947), Sander (1948) and
Gopel (1948).
Based on the empirical Mohr-Coulomb Criterion of rupture, Anderson (1951) and Hubkrt
(1951)implied that the position of the main stress
axes could be determined from the acute bisector of
two conjugate fault planes represented, in the brittle
d m , by the principal compressive c r ~stress axis.
The intersection of these conjugate planes should
&fine the position of the Intermediate 0 2 stressaxis
and further, the 03 axis, normal to the two former
mes.

Hafner' s paper (1951) on stress trajectories mrsus fracture patterns, gave an idea of the complxitics involved and a glimpse of the potential of the

i
,

fitlte-element analysis to the structural geology

=dies of discontinuous media.
The Andeesonian approach showed to be oversimplified when dealing with curnplex spatial dishbutions of tectonic fractures. A search of a more
sophisticated methdoiogy followed the dominant
tendency of soIving Tectonic problems with the
help of the smslstrain ellipsoids concept used in
c h i c a I Structural GeoIogy and applied to Continuous Media This was implemented into the kinematic analysis of fractured media mainly by
abstracting scale problems and assuming regular

and gradual offsetdistributions along different fracture sets (Fig. 1a).

Wallace (1951) assumedthat the original failure
planes in a fracturedmedium contain the limit shear
stress for that plane (instead, as more correct, of that
of the maximum T/D ~Iation)and modeled spatial
distributions of slip vs. shearing stress directions in

different principal stress regimes or stress ellipsoids. Bott (19591, using the same approach,formulated the relationship between maximum shear
stresses on fault pIanes vs. the slip direction. To
define the tectonic regime with the help of the
ratio ktween the principal stress ellipsoid axes.
He also suggested through the parameter

R = ( 0 2 -~)/(UI 0 3 ) with btru2,b3as the principal compressive stresses. These two last contributions led to the known Wallace-Bott approach.
In seismology McKenzie (1969) referred to the
tensorial approach for focal solutions to determine
the positions of rhe main smses. Arthaud (1969)
proposed the use of rhe concept of intersection of
movement planes (containing the n
d to the
plane and the striation) associated with some field
strain markers as a tool to help ro define the directions of the main axes of a stress tensor. Similar
approaches were later introduced into FractureTectonics by Carey and Brunier (1974) and, mainly, by
Angelier and colIaborators (Angelier, l975a ,b; Angelier and Mechler, 1977; Angelier, 1984, 1992:
etc.). Angelier explained the application of the inversion technique and proposed a variant of Bolt's
R parameter used to define the shape of the stress
tensor, = 1 R. Later contributions brought by
papers of Etchecopar et al. (19811, Armijo and

F@ua 1. (a) The -strain

ellipsoid model For fractured media. (b) Sniae (s) and d
(u = upsilon) on a fault plane in cattesian space.

t Rochas SHo W o . 2.5. (2): 79-92, Maia-Apm.to..

n shear stms {z) unit vector %%nnce

k-I

dtbestrband~shmoatbelttbfbtltt~
~ ~ ~ t h e i r a m g k T o ~ t k
~

@dnsoftlmhatfoftha~(R4DS)artho
~ u a t # 1 ~ t 0 f a n g i s & ~ ~ ~ , ( R 4 ~ .
T b e ~ ~ ~ e d ~ y t o t
ofobe~QJI1~Oftbeatrk~dre
~

modulasafthe*~rslassdm~~~
I bJ.
Tho nwtiwda (RsDT*R4DS) may bs applied to
n o n - f a u l t s , ~ j ~ o r ~ ~ &

~ ~ s n
-*It#yw-accsp--

b y a n y ~ ~ b e t w a e D ~ r s o o l ~ ~ d

tbe nomuito the f d plaDe.

TbtlNVDormixcdM~umtheabvc
m t o d ~ ~ a s a l s o ~ ~ b o f t h e s b w r
~ i a v o l v Q d d t h c ~ d U b m c v b
t w r e n ~ r m i t ~ o f t t r a ~ n n d t b a ~

Tbe Use of t
h Fault Striation Analysis Mehod in Engin~ringGeoIogy to Deternine in Situ Stress Axes

t
[

shear vector vk = ' ~ k sk .Values considered as

~ t i v e l adequate
y
and reasonable are limited
for angles of 22.5' and 45'. The calculated minisnun will be that of the sums of the s q u d moduH
ar vk. (also called upsilon vector) so the tensor
chosen is that which corresponds to the minimum
n

&=

pt a2 where p is a weight and

u is the

k= 1

@on
vector on the keith fault. Consequently this
Iscthod is applies only for faults created (not pre-Iy
existing) by the calculated tensor. Values
at h i o n and friction angles are admitted alh g h they are not n e c d l y obtained by a strict
Mohr Coulomb failure criterion but have the same
rredranical meaning. Other used parameter is the
RO value - size of the shear component parallel to
h wrmal to the movement plane (which contains
et striae s and the normal to the fault plane).
Since these methods apply tensorial analysisfor
d u o u s media based on statistics of individual
m t i o n s , these should be relatively small or be
i d a r in modulus in relation to the scale of the
d l i z e d masses, as dready pointed by Gautbier
d Angelier (1985). Unfortunately this aspect is
f h p n t l y neglected as also the rigid block kined c s (like rotations) that introduces bias in the
dculations.
In geological terms, we tried to test the method
ithree relatively simple casts: rotational block
W n g . faults w i h lateral ramps in which certain
h m m sets are almost not resistant,and circular
rqnues.

Z Models and Test Areas

2l. Rotational faulting

In the case of rotational faulting due to rigid

Mock rotation around a normal ta the fault plane,
scvaal striae with d i f f e ~ ndip
t directions will rep-

e n t the segments of the rotational movement at

ciiffcrent points (Kg.2).In this case there will be
one apparent movement plane determined by the
axidon and the normal to the fault for each trajecm y segment. Such a situation may be found along
a m a l or an inverse fault surface or by the
nmvnation of movements of sub parallel en e h e lbst faults with increasing rotation component.

Our Test-Model, a NS 6OE gravity or extensional fault plane (supposedly with a vertical 01)
has 7 etrirte directions falling symmetrically along
the NE and SE quadrants (Table 1).
Figures 2c and 2d, show the stereographic projections of the spatid position of the tensot axes
obtained from a simplified analysis using the Tectonics FP demo program. Also an analysis using
compression-tension dihedra and the position of
individual and average P (compression), T (tension) and BIintcrmediate) axes was performed. A
value of 9 = 0.6 was obtained showing that the
intermediate stress cumponds nearly to the average of the maximum and minimum stresses. The B
axes for each striation are contained in the fault
plane and consequently d i s p e d along its maximum circle while the P axes follow a small circle
being contained in a cone. The same data using
Angelier's 1989 TNVD method are expressed in
Table 2.
In this case, planes where the angle between
striae (STR) and the calculated shear stress (TAU)
lies above 22" and below 45" are considered only
as fair average solutions. And those around 45*
could be eventually considered as pertinent to another phase of compression. The planes nr. 4 and 5
show the lowest angles while plane 4 shows a
significantly lower RO value. The Ratio RMU between the calculated s h and nwmal stresses as
also the angle between the general tension and the
nomd tothe plane are constantfor all the solutions.
From the above analysis the orientation of the
main stressaxes gives an average resdt which does
not a p with a normal fault model with a vertical
maximum and a horizontal minimum stress. This is
due to a complex, but not uncommon kinematics,
involving block rotalion and consequently, the obtained resdt lacks significance.
Such situation traasposcd to regional field tectonic analysis could induce into mistakes that may
be easiIy overseen.

2.2. Ijstric normal fault or 'WmulaP Imdslide

2.2.1. Taking into account a lateral ramp or

additional sliding surface

Here we have a simplified model of a NS strjking listric (spoon or shovel shaped) normal fault or
circular landslide dipping to the East (Table 3) as
depicted in Fig. 243, and solved in Figs. 2g and 2h,

Rotational Fault

Comprtssivt

Tensor

Tensile

Listric or circular rupture

I!.

L d - - C - L C

--

FIgura 2,Rotational fault with c u d sLridona m t a i n t d in the fault plam. Blofk diagram (a) and lower hemisphere ptmgraphjc
pmjdon. (b) and the respective principal stress axes {c) and compression-tw~siondihcdra (d) obmined Ihrough tensor adysis.
(t),(f)&) and (h) are s i r n i I a r r c ~ t ~ ~ i adaped
o n s for a lisvic normal fault wilh lateral ramp, P,B and Tare respectively Compssion.
Imdiate a d Tension axes wrrespomling ta fatal solutions.

The Uw of the Fwlt S h t h Analws Methoa in Engineering Geology lo DcWmint I n Sjm Svess Axes

Table 3. L i d Fault with I w l ramp data

Table 1. Data for R o w i d Fault W l .

Nr
1

6
7

Type
CNS

Strike

Dip

Pirch

60E

89N

Plunge
60

DataNr

Type

Strike

Dip

Pitch

Plunge

CNS

0
0
0

10E

89N

10

20E

89N

20

90

893

1E

CNS

60E

67PI

53

CNS

CNS

60E

62N

50

CNS

CNS

CNS

16

CNS

MIE

36N
19N
1s

31

6OE
60E

CNS

CNS
CIS

CNS

C = d i n fault; PI = n d , S = Sinistial; I a Inverse

CNS

the striae of the curved faiIure surface will be disposed along the EW vertical movement plane
which coincides with the crllm plane rebed to a
planar stress. If we consider the presence of a
subvertical lateral transfer fault or lateral ramp
which will behave as a strike slip fault. the combination of the fault plane-striae solutions, turns out
into an inclined alla3 plane which would be dw
incompatible with the tectonic global stress for a
gravitational or inverse fault model where one of
the principal stresses is expected to be vertically
oriented (respectively or or 03).
The INVD solution finds expression in Table 4.
As may be seen the lowest angleshtween striae
and calculated shear are relatad ofaults nr. 4 to 6
and the lateral ramp fault nr. 15 with an angle of
plunge for the striae of 4U0.This would be relatively
compatible, however the final results are again
contradictory in geological terms.

CNS
CND
CNS

CNS
CNS
CNS

CNS

ms
CNS
CNS
CNS
CNS

21

lateral ramp
In this more simple case without a lateral ramp
effect, the prasence of the curved dipping fault

2*2*2-

Table 2. Angelier's 1989, W D MGthod Saiutions for the Rotational Fault MdeI. SIGMA I; DIP DIRECTION= 279: D m 34.
SIGMA 2; DIP DXRECTION= 169; D m 28. SIGMA 3; DIP DIRECTION= 48;DIP= 43. PHI = 0,57.

MEASURE SIGMA

SIGMAN

TAU

RO

UPSILON

smA~

SIG~N

2,s 1

2,7 1

0,76

033

0.62

0,28

16

44

2,8 1

2,7 1

0.76

0,29

0,33

Oy28

16

22

2,81

2,7 1

0,76

0,22

0.26

028

16

17

2.8 1

2,71

0.76

0,03

0.11

0,28

16

2,81

27 1

0,78

0,12

0,16

038

16

2,81

2,7 1

0,76

034

0,38

028

16

2,8 1

2.71

0.76

0,SS

065

0,28

16

26
46

Legend: SIGMA - resulhnt ski%% SIGMAN - uonnai s m s ;TAU shtar stress; RMU, RO and UPSILON - we text: SIGAM- angle
I normal
~ and rcsulmt; STWT - angle bmeen striac and shear stress on the fault p h e .

Table 4 Angelier's M V D Solutions for Listric Fault with a lateral ramp. SIGMA 1 DIP DIRECTION = 13. P= 68.SIGMA 2 DIP DIRECTION= 206. P= 21. SIGMA 3 DIP DIRECTION = 114. P = 4.
PHI= -53.
PLANE

SIGMA

SIGMAN

TAU

RO

UPSILON RMU

SIGAN

STRAT
42.

w.
18.

7.
1.

7.

IS.

28.
52.

87.
94.

39.

29.
19.

1.
11.

21.

3 1.

36.
35.
40.

surface and striae, although maintaining the vertical

position of the principal plane results into inclined,
averaged, and not vertical and horizonta1 cr 1 and 03
stress components (Fig. 3).

23. The Rankine strm distribution

Some singularitits have to be taken intoaccount
when dealing with circular ruptures as frequently
modeled in Soil Mechanics for slope failures. They
correspond geologically to larger scale nearly Iistric
fault mechanisms and may be tackled from the
perspective of, the Rankine states.
The Rankine state of stress is related to the
distribution of two basic domains in a mass subjected to failure, be it in a cut, foundation or landslide. In the case of a large landslide or an analogue
gravity induced listtic fault, there should be an

active portion subjected to tension and a passive,

resisting mass, opposing the propagation of the
sIide. The expected distribution of principaI
stresses and associated shear conjugates should be
curved in the main principal plane and is punctually
illustrated in Fig. 3, In terms of the simplified
Andersonian modeling we have two resultant distinct structural domains. One represents a vertically oriented 01related to non-nalfaulting and the
other a horizontal 01,thrust related. It illustrates
clearly the presence of two distinct structural domains in one simple planar gravity fault condition,
and points to the need of dividing the area in structural domains in the brittle realm before drawing
conclusions about the kinematics of such regions.
FieId example of such situation may also k portrayed in Fig. 5 in a monitored landslide area.

Solos e Rochas. SBo Paulo, 25. (2): 79-82. MaimAgosto. 2Mn.

The Use of the Fault Striation Analysis Mtthod in EnanteringGtology to Determine In Situ Stress Axes

01
ShSS

ellipsoid

stress

ellipsoid

Planes +

Dihedra

Striae

Ffgura 3, Stress strain and brittle deformation in a planar landslide represented

under tbe Rankinc State concept. Stmonets show

from left to right: cidographicprojections of planes tangent to the main slide surface and their respective striae which on their turn are
situated in the movement p l m : stereonet obtained from the former data with the resulting main compression (P)and extension axes
0;
stereonet with the compression nnd extension dihedra.

Unfortunately such relatively common situations

may dmatched by the oversimplified utilization of the fault x striae methods.

3. Example Areas
3.1. The A p dam slide
A relatively clear and weII-describedsub circular slide of the A p earthfill dam failure in De Mello
(1982). Here it is chosen since we had the opponunity to study it closely and the data &hindfit
reasonably we11 in the model of a controlled listric
failure.
It was a construction period rupture that involved a 40 m high dam. which failed just before
5 m of reaching its design crest. An eyewitness

solos e U,
S& Paulo. Zi. (2): 79-92.Maia-Agosm. 20M.

described a failure which developed upstin

about 30 min, starting with tension cracks at the lop
followed by a routional slip in the higher reach plus
a massive push outwardsin the flatterlower section.
There it slid aIong a distance of about 25 rn (Fig.4).
Initially, the uppw horizontally compacted layers
rorated facing the upper slope. Striae plus shear
planes were later measured in obswvation pits.
The failure of the dam was geotechnicdlydocumented with stereonet data worked 0112by the
pFesent author. Measures ofthe fmmres and striae
from the middle of the rupture, in its planar deformation dodomain, showed a typical deformation pattern along a XZ symmetq plan of the ellipsoid
when using the movement plane poles (Arthad's

Horizontal shear

Translation 25 rn

I00 m south

SlidP
rotation

75 m south

@,

Shear layers
Lifted
surfaws

( De Mella, 1982 - modified)

Aqu d a m failure

Figura 4 Acu Dam slide and respective stereonets showing the poles of tht rob@ layers and the shear s u r f a m to illustmte
rotational component in a planar strain regime. Thc poles of the shear and reference sutfaccs arc contained inside the NS movc
plane.

Method). The movement planes show a planar deformation with rotation of the blocks around the
Y-axis. The profile of the rupture could also be
compared with that of a detachment fault along a
weak surface (similar to the Basin and Range geologic extension zone described in Wernicke and
Burchfiel, 1982).
The quantitative treatment of the data using the
conventional stress determination procedure obtained relatively inclined P -Taxes (but not vertical
and horizontal) situated in the expected vertical
plane.
32. The natural slnpe failure site
3.2.I. Geometry
This model showed planar and curvilinear failure surfaces affecting brittle as also ductile deformations in saproIite of banded gneisses.
The area is located along the margin next to a
construction site of one of the Dam facilities in
Brazil, on deeply weathered Precambrian gnaisses
with biotitic micaceous layers dipping slightly into

the slope,
The landslide, which locally endangered a railway, had to be careFulIy monitored by surface geodesy. The slip surfaces were clearly exposed on
the slope face, void of vegetation On the top of the

sliding area, extensional features were clearly s

contrasting with compressional striated thrust fr
tures at the bottom.
Figure 5 shows the mapped slip surface,
location of geodetic surface markers, explora
boreholes and pits as also the tensor solutions.
study of the slip surface was completed by rn
ing local slipplanes and striae. The five rnarke
were installed and monitored during several
with the help of infrared Iaser-survey
and their dislocation referred to two fi
Measures of slickensides were also obtarn
5 exploration pits, some of which about 20 m d
Eight Standard Penetration Test hobs were
evaluate the general mechanical and
condition of the ground. Centimetic dislocati
along shear fractures cut the concrete of a di
disposed approximately along the direction of
slope.
The precarnbrian gnaisses of the local bed
were composed by alternating meter thick, sli
undulated, white to gray dominantly quarkspatic and dark chlorite-biotite rich Iayers. They
dip 10 to 20" into the slope y ~ are
d respectively
weathered into dense sandy silts and very micaceous, coIlapsible silts. The depth of the weathered horizon was about 30 rn, what is common in

The Use of the Fault Striation Analysis Method in Enginkng Gwlogy to Determine In Siru S W s A m

~pr.PassivcZone

< Layering
SP @ Spl horings
IF

I nvrsliplion pils

>
@
la:

ili~p~awm~n~
vcctorslplungc

Planes- strim

I Mohr

Figura 5. Laterally constrained circular slide . Large arrows represent the horizontal projcnion of the d i s l d i o n vectors of markers
M. with the ma[ dislocation in parenthesis, a small arrow (IPE)shows the dipldipdirectionof striae on he slide plane measured about
19 m below the surface.The stide mass was subdivided in dominantly extensional and compressional domnins.Below are dimcnsionlcss
3D Mohr circlescalculated and the position ofthe plumes mainly on the major circle what reveals that these fractures arenot preexisting
weakness planes with exception of those ( 5 and 7)coinciding with the biolite layers. On the lower right is the tensorial solution for the
planes chosen.

Sadowski

the tropical environment. Overlying the saprolitic

soils are sparse remnant patches of colluvial debris
with a depth of a couple of meters. The groundwater table lies further below the failure zone.
The slide surface is spoon shaped and shows a
semi circular trace on the surface whal implies in a
certain lateral confinement for the kinematics of
mass displacement. Its venical section was estimated for purely practical reasons as semi-circular
but may be a composed surface where the base runs
sub parallel to one of the weak micaceous Iayers
dipping into the slope. The upper portion moved
down while the lower portion of the slide area
bulged and thrusted the saprolite over a pateo-colIuvium along a failure surface dipping towards the
slope, following the micaceous layering. New ruptures formed along and subparallel to preexisting
ones, as observed in the inspection pits (IP 7 and 8).
The volume of the mobilized mass was about
170,000 m3 and the maximum depth of the slide
surface was estimated about 25 m.
Table 5 is a synthesis of the more reliable measured slickenside data and a clear extension fracture
(nr. 6). Repeated orientations were omitted.

3.3. Kinematics

Figure 5 shows the slide area with the magnitude, dip and dip direction of the dislocation vectors
of the reference markers, the stereogram of the
slickenside surfaces and striae and the solution of

Table 5. Dan from landslide yea

Data Nr Type Strike Dip Pitch Striae to Plunge

1

CNS 90

12N 89W 179

12

CNS 90

89N 89W 135

89

CNS 90

CID

110

CIS

160

70N 89W 177

10s 80E 190
30E IS
159

CID

140

IOW 45s

185

42N

200

IS

201

CNS 160
CIS

22

CNS 50
CNS 135

II

20E
32E
89N
60E

89W 95

89N 223

60

the presumed stress-tensor obtained through the

Angelier Methd (Angelier, 1989). TabIe 6 shows
the parameters obtained from the performed analysis.

From the geometry of the rupture trace it may

be foreseen that the failure is not of a planar type.
The obtained phi value is 0.91 represents a triaxial
stress ellipsoid tending to an oblate type with a
subhorizontalextension sigma 2 axis. The deformation in this case tends to be slightly symmetric
extensional with a poorly defined principal sub
vertical a1 x 0 3 phan transversal to the slope.

TabIe 6. Angelier's INVD Solutions for the Landslide. SIGMA 1 058/57. SIGMA 2 280126. SIGMA 3
18W19.RAPPORT f = .90.
PLANE
I

SIGMA

SIGMAN

TAU

RO

UPSILON

SIGAN

.84

.I5

-83

.08

-09

9.

Average

SIGMA = .85: SIGMAN = -0.7:T A U z.54: RO = .22; UPSILON = .73;SIGnN = 46.: STKhT= 43.

STRAT

The Use of the Fault Striation Analysis Method in Engineering Geplogy to Ilefennine In Situ S t m s Axes

The resultant movement vector obtained from

the marker pins is approximately inside the or a3
plane as also in the movement plane obtained
through the Arthaud Method.

They should be tested through other evidences or

4. Conclusions
The results of the simple tesrs made indicate that

The author wishes to thank Victor de Me110 and

Associates and Construtora Andrade Gutierrez
S.A., to allow the use of data obtained in the field.
h f . Angelier for the explanations in using his
program, and Prof.Ginaldo Campanha for suggestions.

regional stress axes orientations obtained by conventional fault & striae analysis may give yield
incoherent results although very elegant at a first
glance. To be of some value the data have to be
carefully evaluated: deformations should be similar
in modulus and fractures should work independently.
The data should be related to shear joints and
not to fault planeswith Iarge dislocations in relation
to the neighboring failures.
Block rotations wilI induce false interpretations.
Superposed tectonics with change of e stress
distributions will complicate even more the interpretations.
Also lwal "shaIlow"stressesmay be controlled
by topography, stressrelief and excavationsor local
landslide phenomena and sometimes induce small
adjustments along pmxicisting fractures.
In the kinematics of the studied landslides certain coherence was found with the theoretical approaches of the slip x rupture plane rnethds for
what concernsthe initial brittle deformations. However during subsequent deformation increments
and block rotations the data develop into complex
patterns.Exceptions art planar failure modes where
the movement planes tend to lie statistically inside
the main principal plane.
What concerns the tectonic rotational and subcircular (listric) failure models, the results may be
misleading if not geographically constricted. It
means that in this case deformation is not linear
being too heterogeneous to allow its representation
by an unique tensor or stress, or strain ellipsoid.
Before taking the fault-striation analysis into
consideration, specially, in what concerns its use in
engineering design, it has to be reminded that even
accurately (!) obtained stress axes orientations may
be related to tectonic states of stress of a far remote
geological past.
We conclude that these methods should be used
with much caution in Geological Engineering.

direct stress measures or even d i s c d in areas of

complex tectonic evolution.

Acknowledgements

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