Coseismic deformation and fault slip distribution of the 2023 M_(W)7.8 and M_(W)7.6 earthquakes in Türkiye

On February 6,2023,a devastating earthquake with a moment magnitude of M_(W)7.8 struck the town of Pazarcik in south-central Türkiye,followed by another powerful earthquake with a moment magnitude of M_(W)7.6 that struck the nearby city of Elbistan 9 h later.To study the characteristics of surface deformation caused by this event and the influence of fault rupture,this study calculated the static coseismic deformation of 56 stations and dynamic displacement waveforms of 15 stations using data from the Turkish national fixed global navigation satellite system(GNSS)network.A maximum static coseismic displacement of 0.38 m for the M_(W)7.8 Kahramanmaras earthquake was observed at station ANTE,36 km from the epicenter,and a maximum dynamic coseismic displacement of 4.4 m for the M_(W)7.6 Elbistan earthquake was observed at station EKZ1,5 km from the epicenter.The rupture-slip distributions of the two earthquakes were inverted using GNSS coseismic deformation as a constraint.The results showed that the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture segment was distinct and exposed on the ground,resulting in significant rupture slip along the Amanos and Pazarcik fault segments of the East Anatolian Fault.The maximum slip in the Pazarcik fault segment was 10.7 m,and rupture occurred at depths of 0–15 km.In the Cardak fault region,the Elbistan earthquake caused significant ruptures at depths of 0–12 km,with the largest amount of slip reaching 11.6 m.The Coulomb stress change caused by the Kahramanmaras earthquake rupture along the Cardak fault segment was approximately 2 bars,and the area of increased Coulomb stress corresponded to the subsequent rupture region of the M_(W)7.6 earthquake.Thus,it is likely that the M_(W)7.8 earthquake triggered or promoted the M_(W)7.6 earthquake.Based on the cumulative stress impact of the M_(W)7.8 and M_(W)7.6 events,the southwestern segment of the East Anatolian Fault,specifically the Amanos fault segment,experienced a Coulomb rupture stress change exceeding 2 bars,warranting further attention to assess its future seismic hazard risk.

Research on casing deformation prevention technology based on cementing slurry system optimization

The casing deformation prevention technology based on the optimization of cement slurry is proposed to reduce the casing deformation of shale oil and gas wells during hydraulic fracturing. In this paper, the fracture mechanism of hollow particles in cement sheath was firstly analyzed by discrete element method, and the effect of hollow particles in cement on casing deformation was investigated by laboratory experiment method. Finally, field test was carried out to verify the improvement effect of the casing deformation based on cement slurry modification. The results show that the formation displacement can be absorbed effectively by hollow particles inside the cement transferring the excessive deformation away from casing. The particles in the uncemented state provide deformation space during formation slipping. The casing with diameter of 139.7 mm could be passed through by bridge plug with the diameter of 99 mm when the mass ratio of particle/cement reaches 1:4. According to the field test feedback, the method based on optimization of cement slurry can effectively reduce the risk of casing deformation, and the recommended range of hollow microbeads content in the cement slurry is between 15% and 25%.

αDecay in extreme laser fields within a deformed Gamow-like model

In this study, the effect of extreme laser fields on the α decay process of ground-state even–even nuclei was investigated.Using the deformed Gamow-like model, we found that state-of-the-art lasers can cause a slight change in the α decay penetration probability of most nuclei. In addition, we studied the correlation between the rate of change of the α decay penetration probability and angle between the directions of the laser electric field and α particle emission for different nuclei. Based on this correlation, the average effect of extreme laser fields on the half-life of many nuclei with arbitrary α particle emission angles was calculated. The calculations show that the laser suppression and promotion effects on the α decay penetration probability of the nuclei population with completely random α particle-emission directions are not completely canceled.The remainder led to a change in the average penetration probability of the nuclei. Furthermore, the possibility of achieving a higher average rate of change by altering the spatial shape of the laser is explored. We conclude that circularly polarized lasers may be helpful in future experiments to achieve a more significant average rate of change of the α decay half-life of the nuclei population.

Comparison of large deformation failure control method in a deep gob-side roadway: A theoretical analysis and field investigation

Under the dual influence of the mining disturbance of the previous working face and the advanced mining of the working face,the roadway is prone to large deformation,failure,and rockburst.Roadway stabilization has always significantly influenced deep mining safety.In this article we used the research background of the large deformation failure roadway of Fa-er Coal Mine in Guizhou Province of China to propose two control methods:bolt-cable-mesh+concrete blocks+directional energy-gathering blasting(BCM-CBDE method)and 1st Generation-Negative Poisson’s Ratio(1G NPR)cable+directional energy-gathering blasting+dynamic pressure stage support(πgirder+single hydraulic prop+retractable U steel)(NPR-DEDP method).Meantime,we compared the validity of the large deformation failure control method in a deep gob-side roadway based on theoretical analysis,numerical simulations,and field experiments.The results show that directional energy-gathering blasting can weaken the pressure acting on the concrete blocks.However,the vertical stress of the surrounding rock of the roadway is still concentrated in the entity coal side and the concrete blocks,showing a’bimodal’distribution.BCM-CBDE method cannot effectively control the stability of the roadway.NPR-DEDP method removed the concrete blocks.It shows using the 1G NPR cable with periodic slipping-sticking characteristics can adapt to repeated mining disturbances.The peak value of the vertical stress of the roadway is reduced and transferred to the deep part of the surrounding rock mass,which promotes the collapse of the gangue in the goaf and fills the goaf.The pressure of the roadway roof is reduced,and the gob-side roadway is fundamentally protected.Meantime,the dynamic pressure stage support method withπgirder+single hydraulic prop+retractable U steel as the core effectively protects the roadway from dynamic pressure impact when the main roof is periodically broken.After the on-site implementation of NPR-DEDP method,the deformation of the roadway is reduced by more than 45%,and the deformation rate is reduced by more than 50%.

On well-posedness of two-phase nonlocal integral models for higher-order refined shear deformation beams

Due to the conflict between equilibrium and constitutive requirements,Eringen’s strain-driven nonlocal integral model is not applicable to nanostructures of engineering interest.As an alternative,the stress-driven model has been recently developed.In this paper,for higher-order shear deformation beams,the ill-posed issue(i.e.,excessive mandatory boundary conditions(BCs)cannot be met simultaneously)exists not only in strain-driven nonlocal models but also in stress-driven ones.The well-posedness of both the strain-and stress-driven two-phase nonlocal(TPN-Strain D and TPN-Stress D)models is pertinently evidenced by formulating the static bending of curved beams made of functionally graded(FG)materials.The two-phase nonlocal integral constitutive relation is equivalent to a differential law equipped with two restriction conditions.By using the generalized differential quadrature method(GDQM),the coupling governing equations are solved numerically.The results show that the two-phase models can predict consistent scale-effects under different supported and loading conditions.

Deformation of a two-phase medium due to a long buried strike-slip fault

The aim of the present paper is to obtain the two-dimensional deformation of a two-phase elastic medium consisting of half-spaces of different ri- gidities in welded contact due to a buried long strike-slip fault. The solution is valid for arbitrary values of the fault-depth and the dip angle. The effect of fault-depth on the displacement and stress fields for different values of dip angle has been studied numerically. It is found that the displacement field varies significantly for a buried fault from the corresponding displacement field for an interface-breaking fault. The contour maps showing the stress field for various dip angles for buried and interface-breaking fault have been plotted. It has been observed that the stress field varies significantly for a buried fault from the corresponding stress field for an interface-breaking fault.

Geodetic constraints on contemporary three-dimensional crustal deformation in the Laji Shan—Jishi Shan tectonic belt

The Laji Shan—Jishi Shan tectonic belt(LJTB),located in the southern part of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau(NETP),is a tectonic window to reveal regional tectonic deformation in the NETP.However,its kinematics in the Holocene remains controversial.We obtain the latest and dense horizontal velocity field based on data collected from our newly constructed and existing GNSS stations.Combined with fault kinematics from geologic observations,we analyze the crustal deformation characteristics along the LJTB.The results show that:(1)The Laji Shan fault(LJF)is inactive,and the northwest-oriented Jishi Shan fault(JSF)exhibits a significant dextral and thrust slip.(2)The transpression along the arc-shaped LJTB accommodates deformation transformation between the dextral Riyue Shan fault and the sinistral west Qinling fault.(3)With the continuous pushing of the Indian plate,internal strains in the Tibetan Plateau are continuously transferred in the northeast via the LJTB as they are gradually dissipated near the LJTB and translated into significant crustal uplift in these regions.

Discovering Crustal Deformation Bands by Processing Regional Gravity Field

Objectives： This article presents a new computational procedure to discover scratches buried in the earth＇s crust. We also validate this new interdisciplinary analysis method with regional gravity data located in a well-known Dabie orogenic zone for test. Methods： Based on the scratch analysis method evolved with mathematical morphology of surfaces, we present a procedure that extracts information of the crustal scratches from regional gravity data. Because the crustal scratches are positively and highly correlated to crustal deformation bands, it can be used for delineation of the crustal deformation belts. The scratches can be quantitatively characterized by calculation of the ridge coefficient function, whose high value traces delineate the deformation bands hidden in the regional gravity field. In addition, because the degree of crustal deformation is an important indicator of tectonic unit divisions, so the crust can be further divided according to the degree of crustal deformation into some tectonic units by using the ridge coefficient data, providing an objective base map for earth scientists to build tectonic models with quantitative evidence. Results： After the ridge coefficients are calculated, we can further enhance the boundary of high ridge-coefficient blocks, resulting in the so-called ridge-edge coefficient function. The high-value ridge-edge coefficients are well correlated with the edge faults of tectonic units underlay, providing accurate positioning of the base map for compilation of regional tectonic maps. In order to validate this new interdisciplinary analysis method, we select the Dabie orogenic zone as a pilot area for test, where rock outcrops are well exposed on the surface and detailed geological and geophysical surveys have been carried out. Tests show that the deformation bands and the tectonic units, which are conformed by tectonic scientists based on surface observations, are clearly displayed on the ridge and ridge-edge coefficient images obtained in this article. Moreover, these computer-generated images provide more accurate locations and geometric details. Conclusions： This work demonstrates that application of modern mathematical tools can promote the quantitative degree in research of modern geosciences, helping to open a door to develop a new branch of mathematical tectonics.

A Characteristic Analysis of the Dynamic Evolution of Preseismic-Coseismic-Postseismic Interferometric Deformation Fields Associated with the M 7.9 Earthquake of Mani,Tibet in 1997

By using the D-InSAR technique, we have acquired the temporal-spatial evolution images of preseismic.cosesimci-postseismic interferometric deformation fields associated with the M 7.9 earthquake of Mani, Tibet on 8 November 1997. The analysis of these images reveals the relationships between the temporal-spatial evolution features of the interferometric deformation fields and locking, rupturing, and elastic restoring of the source rupture plane, which represent the processes of strain accumulation, strain release, and postseismic restoration. The result shows that 10 months prior to the Mani event, a left-lateral shear trend appeared in the seismic area, which was in accordance with the earthquake fault in nature. The quantity of local deformation on the north wall was slightly larger than that on the south wall, and the deformation distribution area of the north wall was relatively large. With the event impending, the deformation of the south wall varied increasingly, and the deformation center shifted eastward. Two and half monthd before the event, the west side of the fault was still locked while the east side began to slide, implying that the whole fault would rupture at any moment. These features can be regarded as short-term precursors to this earthquake. Within the period from 16 April 1996 to two and half months before the earthquake, the most remarkable deformation zones appeared in the north and south walls, which were parallel to and about 40 km apart from the fault, with accumulated local displacements of 344 mm and 251 mm on the north and south walls, respectively. The south wall was the active one with larger displacements. Five months after the earthquake, the distribution feature of interferometric fringes was just opposite to that prior to the event, expressing evident right-lateral shear. The recovered displacements are -179 mm on the north wall and -79 mm on the south wall, close to the east side of the fault. However, in the area of the south wall far from the fault there still existed a trend of sinistral motion. The deformation of the north wall was small but recovered fast in a larger area, while the active south wall began to recover from the east section of the fault toward the WSW.

Simulation and Analysis on the Two-Phase Flow Fields in a Rotating-Stream-Tray Absorber by Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The flow field of gas and liquid in a φ150mm rotating-stream-tray (RST) scrubber is simulated by using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method. The sismulation is based on the two-equation RNG κ-ε turbulence model, Eulerian multiphase model, and a real-shape 3D model with a huge number of meshes. The simulation results include detailed information about velocity, pressure, volume fraction and so on. Some features of the flow field are obtained: liquid is atomized in a thin annular zone; a high velocity air zone prevents water drops at the bottom from flying towards the wall; the pressure varies sharply at the end of blades and so on. The results will be helpful for structure optimization and engineering design.

Present-day 3D deformation field of Northeast China,observed by GPS and leveling

A broad view of present-day 3D deformation field around the Northeast China region was derived from GPS and leveling observations. We draw the following conclusions： First, the Northeast China region moved towards northwest with an average velocity of 5 ram/a, with respect to South China. The entire Northeast China region was in a low strain state from the strain rate field. Second, we processed two periods of first- order leveling data in 1970s and 1990s, showing the vertical deformation of the Northeast China region is ＂uplift in western part and subsidence in eastern part＇

High-resolution remote sensing image-based extensive deformation-induced landslide displacement field monitoring method

Landslide is one of the multitudinous serious geological hazards. The key to its control and reduction lies on dynamic monitoring and early warning. The article points out the insufficiency of traditional measuring means applied for large-scale landslide monitoring and proposes the method for extensive landslide displacement field monitoring using high- resolution remote images. Matching of cognominal points is realized by using the invariant features of SIFT algorithm in image translation, rotation, zooming, and affine transformation, and through recognition and comparison of characteristics of high-resolution images in different landsliding periods. Following that, landslide displacement vector field can be made known by measuring the distances and directions between cognominal points. As evidenced by field application of the method for landslide monitoring at West Open Mine in Fushun city of China, the method has the attraction of being able to make areal measurement through satellite observation and capable of obtaining at the same time the information of large- area intensive displacement field, for facilitating automatic delimitation of extent of landslide displacement vector field and sliding mass. This can serve as a basis for making analysis of laws governing occurrence of landslide and adoption of countermeasures.

Deformation field around a thrust fault:A comparison between laboratory results and GPS observations of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

On May 12,2008,an Mw7.9 earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County,Sichuan Province,China.Movement of Yingxiu–Beichuan Fault in the Longmenshan Fault Zone was considered to be the main cause of the earthquake.Earthquakes are closely related to fault activities.Therefore,studying the strain distribution and evolution process around active fault zones is important to the understanding of seismic activities.In this study,we conduct laboratory experiments with uniaxial compression applied to marble sheets with intentionally fabricated cracks.The speckle patterns of the rock samples under different loading conditions are recorded in real time by a digital camera.To calculate the deformation fields of the deliberately cracked marble sheets during different stages of the loading processes,the recorded images are processed by the digital image correlation method.The distribution and variation of the displacement and strain are further analyzed in order to understand the strain localization of and observed damage in the experimental fracture zones.Finally,we compare these laboratory results with the GPS-observed coseismic displacements during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake,to assess the consistency between our laboratory observations and the field observations of the earthquake,but also to suggest how laboratory results can improve thinking about how earthquake patterns do and do not reflect fault patterns.

On the physical model of earthquake precursor fields and the mechanism of precursors＇timespace distribution（Ⅲ）──anomalies of seismicity and crustal deformation and their mechanisms when a strong earthquake is in prep

By studying the seismicity pattern before 37 earthquakes with M≥6. 0 in North China and the pattern of crustal deformation in the Capital Area from 1954 to 1992, some abnormal characteristics of these patterns before strong earthquakes have been extracted. A comparison has been made between the anomalies of these two kinds of Patterns. From the results we can know the following. ① Before a strong earthquake, the seismicity will strengthen and the crustal deformation rate will increase. ② Several years before a strong earthquake, there will be seismic gaps and deformation gaps around the epicenter of the quake. ③ The dynamic parameters of patterns all show a decrease in information dimension. This means that the crustal deformation has become more and more localized with time and it gives an important indication showing that a strong earthquake is in preparation. At the end of the paper, the physical mechanisms of the abnormal patterns of seismicity and crustal deformationhave been explained in a unified way in terms of the earthquake-generating model of a inhomogeneous strongbody in inhmogeneous media.

Experimental analysis of crack tip fields in rubber materials under large deformation

A three-nested-deformation model is proposed to describe crack-tip fields in rubber-like materials with large deformation. The model is inspired by the distribution of the measured in-plane and out-of-plane deformation. The in- plane displacement of crack-tip fields under both Mode 1 and mixed-mode （Mode I-II） fracture conditions is measured by using the digital Moir6 method. The deformation character- istics and experimental sector division mode are investigated by comparing the measured displacement fields under differ- ent fracture modes. The out-of-plane displacement field near the crack tip is measured using the three-dimensional digital speckle correlation method.

Assessing the deformation response of double-track overlapped tunnels using numerical simulation and field monitoring

The unprecedented rate of metro construction has led to a highly complex network of metro lines.Tunnels are being overlapped to an ever-increasing degree.This paper investigates the deformation response of double-track overlapped tunnels in Tianjin,China using finite element analysis(FEA)and field monitoring,considering the attributes of different tunneling forms.With respect to the upper tunneling,the results of the FEA and field monitoring showed that the maximum vertical displacements of the ground surface during the tail passage were 2.06 mm,2.25 mm and 2.39 mm obtained by the FEA,field monitoring and Peck calculation,respectively;the heaves on the vertical displacement curve were observed at 8 m(1.25D,where D is the diameter of the tunnel)away from the center of the tunnel and the curve at both sides was asymmetrical.Furthermore,the crown and bottom produce approximately0.38 mm and 1.26 mm of contraction,respectively.The results of the FEA of the upper and lower sections demonstrated that the tunneling form has an obvious influence on the deformation response of the double-track overlapped tunnel.Compared with the upper tunneling,the lower tunneling exerted significantly less influence on the deformation response,which manifested as a smaller displacement of the strata and deformation of the existing tunnel.The results of this study on overlapped tunnels can provide a reference for similar projects in the future.

Deformation correlations,stress field switches and evolution of an orogenic intersection:The Pan-African Kaoko-Damara orogenic junction,Namibia

Age calibrated deformation histories established by detailed mapping and dating of key magmatic time markers are correlated across all tectono-metamorphic provinces in the Damara Orogenic System.Correlations across structural belts result in an internally consistent deformation framework with evidence of stress field rotations with similar timing,and switches between different deformation events.Horizontal principle compressive stress rotated clockwise ~180°in total during Kaoko Belt evolution,and^135° during Damara Belt evolution.At most stages,stress field variation is progressive and can be attributed to events within the Damara Orogenic System,caused by changes in relative trajectories of the interacting Rio De La Plata,Congo,and Kalahari Cratons.Kaokoan orogenesis occurred earliest and evolved from collision and obduction at ~590 Ma,involving E-W directed shortening,progressing through different transpressional states with ~45° rotation of the stress field to strike-slip shear under NW-SE shortening at ~550-530 Ma.Damaran orogenesis evolved from collision at ~555-550 Ma with NW-SE directed shortening in common with the Kaoko Belt,and subsequently evolved through ~90°rotation of the stress field to NE-SW shortening at ~512-508 Ma.Both Kaoko and Damara orogenic fronts were operating at the same time,with all three cratons being coaxially convergent during the 550-530 Ma period;Rio De La Plata directed SE against the Congo Craton margin,and both together over-riding the Kalahari Craton margin also towards the SE.Progressive stress field rotation was punctuated by rapid and significant switches at ~530-525 Ma,~508 Ma and ~505 Ma.These three events included:(1)Culmination of main phase orogenesis in the Damara Belt,coinciding with maximum burial and peak metamorphism at 530-525 Ma.This occurred at the same time as termination of transpression and initiation of transtensional reactivation of shear zones in the Kaoko Belt.Principle compressive stress switched from NW-SE to NNW-SSE shortening in both Kaoko and Damara Belts at this time.This marks the start of Congo-Kalahari stress field overwhelming the waning Rio De La Plata-Congo stress field,and from this time forward contraction across the Damara Belt generated the stress field governing subsequent low-strain events in the Kaoko Belt.(2)A sudden switch to E-W directed shortening at ~508 Ma is interpreted as a far-field effect imposed on the Damara Orogenic System,most plausibly from arc obduction along the orogenic margin of Gondwana(Ross-Delamerian Orogen).(3)This imposed stress field established a N-S extension direction exploited by decompression melts,switch to vertical shortening,and triggered gravitational collapse and extension of the thermally weakened hot orogen core at ~505 Ma,producing an extensional metamorphic core complex across the Central Zone.

An investigation into the deformation, movement and coalescence characteristics of water-in-oil droplets in an AC electric field

Drop-drop coalescence is important in electric dehydrators used for oil-water separation in the oil industry.The deformation degree,angle between the electric field and the center line of two drops,effects of intensities and frequencies of the electric field have been studied by analyzing droplet images.However,seldom have people investigated the movement and the relative velocity in the process of dropdrop coalescence.In this paper forces acting on a single droplet and horizontal water droplets in an AC electric field were analyzed,and experiments were carried out to investigate the deformation,movement and coalescence characteristics of droplets with white oil and water.With a micro high-speed camera system and image processing technology,the droplet images were collected and analyzed.The results indicate that the deformation is mainly affected by the electric field intensity,frequency,droplet diameter and the oil viscosity.High field strength and large diameter facilitate deformation of drops in the electric field.The effect of frequency and oil viscosity is not obvious.Higher frequency and higher oil viscosity will lead to smaller oscillation amplitude.The effect of electric field intensity and droplet diameter on oscillation amplitude is not obvious.When the center-to-center distance between droplets is large,the forces acting on droplets in the horizontal direction are mainly dipole-dipole attraction and drag forces.There is also the film-thinning force when droplets get closer.The forces are simplified and derived.Based on force analysis and Newton＇s second law,the relative movement is analyzed in different parts,and the relationship of center-to-center distance and time is in accordance with an explinear function at different stages.According to experimental data,the movement of 145 μm double droplets before coalescence can be fitted well with an explinear function at two stages.In addition,the whole movement process is investigated and can be estimated with a fourth order polynomial curve,from which the relative velocity of droplet movement can also be obtained.With an increases in electric field intensity and droplet diameter and a decrease in oil viscosity,the relative velocity increases.Only when the oil-water interfacial tension is obviously high,can it influence the relative movement significantly.The coalescence is mainly dipole coalescence and chain coalescence under influence of the AC electric field.

Field experiment of rainfall infiltration on a soil slope and simulations based on a water-air two-phase flow model

Rainfall infiltration on a soil slope is usually an unsaturated seepage process that can be described by a water-air two-phase flow model.The effect of pore air pressure on rainfall infiltration has been widely recognized and validated by means of numerical simulations and laboratory experiments.However,whether a slope can actually seal pore air continues to be debated by researchers.In this study,a water-air two-phase flow model is used to simulate the rainfall infiltration process on a soil slope,and a field experiment is conducted to realistically test the sealing conditions of a slope.According to the numerical simulation,the areas of water and air flow in and out on the slope surface are relatively stable and can be classified as the“inhalation zone”and“overflow zone”,respectively.Intermittent rainfall on the soil slope has an amplifying effect on pore air pressure because rainfall intensity is usually at the millimeter level,and it causes pore air pressure to reach the cm level.A field experiment was performed to determine whether a slope can realistically seal pore air and subsequently verify the regularity of rainfall infiltration.Air pressure sensors were buried in the slope to monitor the pore air pressures during the rainfall process.The monitoring results show that the pore air pressure in the slope changed,which indicates that the slope can seal air.Moreover,the amplification effects of intermittent rainfall on pore air pressure were observed for natural rainfall,which agrees well with the numerical simulation results.

Effects of fault movement and material properties on deformation and stress fields of Tibetan Plateau

We compare the factors which affect the movement of Tibetan Plateau by building three types of finite element models： an elastic materials （M-EC）, a continuous model composed by non-linear materials （M-PC）, and an elastic model with discontinuous fault movements （M-ET）. Both in M-ET and M-EC, the materials in Qiangtang and Lhasa block are elastic, and in M-ET, discontinuous movement of faults is considered for evaluating the effects of strike-slip faults. In model M-PC Druker-Prager plastic materials are used in Qiangtang and Lhasa block. Comparisons of the numerical simulation and the GPS observations show following characteristics： （1） Under present tectonic environment, short-term deformation of Tibetan Plateau can be simulated well by elastic models; （2） Discontinuous fault activities increase the lateral extrusion of the eastern part of Tibetan Plateau, reduce the stress field level in Qiangtang, Tarim and Qaidam blocks and strengthen the E-W extensional force in the east and the west parts of Qiangtang block; （3） Properties of plastic materials reduce the total stress field and the E-W extensional force, thus, the normal fault earthquakes in southern Tibet is mainly owed to the effect of active fault movement. Based on the numerical simulations we speculate that faults movement may play a more important role on the kinematic pattern of Tibetan Plateau than bulk properties.