Study on reverse fault rupture propagation through sand with inclined ground surface

Previous studies on faulting were performed on horizontal grounds, which were hypothesized implicitly. As an increasing number of infrastructures are being built on topographically complex sites such as mountainous areas, investigations into fault rupture propagation through soil with an inclined surface have become significant. In this study, a series of 1 g physical model tests of reverse faulting with inclined ground surfaces were performed. The effects of ground inclination on the geometry of fault ruptures, displacement at the ground surface, and deformation of the sand layer were investigated. Three classical soil mechanics theories, namely, the Rankine, Roscoe, and Vermeer theories, were used to predict the directions of fault ruptures in sand with inclined ground surfaces. The predicted values were compared with the measured values obtained from the model tests. Based on the experimental results, a configuration of the setback limits for structures on an inclined ground is recommended to prevent destruction by fault ruptures.