Geometry of Shearing Stress and Relation to Faulting

Abstract

The distributions of intensity and orientation of maximum shearing stress in typical stress systems are plotted on stereographic projections in order to show the three-dimensional relationships. Mathematical expressions of these relationships as well as graphical methods of evaluation are given. Relationships of shearing stress to orientation of fault planes and orientation of net slip of faults are suggested. Methods of studying the relationships of faults and shearing stress are described.