The stress changes that accompany strike-slip faulting

Abstract In a previous paper (Chinnery, 1961) an investigation of the deformation of the ground around a strike-slip fault was described. This work is now extended to a calculation of the change in stress distribution that is brought about by such a fault. Contour maps of the components of the stress change are included, both for the general rectangular fault, and for the limiting case of a long shallow fault. These maps have a number of interesting features, and show clearly the complexity of the stress change in the neighborhood of the edges of the fault plane. The assumptions involved in the calculation are discussed at some length.