Evaluation of transtension and transpression within contractional fault steps: Comparing kinematic and mechanical models to field data

Rock deformation often is investigated using kinematic and/or mechanical models. Here we provide a direct comparison of these modeling techniques in the context of a deformed dike within a meter-scale contractional fault step. The kinematic models consider two possible shear plane orientations and various modes of deformation (simple shear, transtension, transpression), while the mechanical model uses the finite element method and assumes elastoplastic constitutive behavior. The results for the kinematic and mechanical models are directly compared using the modeled maximum and minimum principal stretches. The kinematic analysis indicates that the contractional step may be classified as either transtensional or transpressional depending on the modeled shear plane orientation, suggesting that these terms may be inappropriate descriptors of step-related deformation. While the kinematic models do an acceptable job of depicting the change in dike shape and orientation, they are restricted to a prescribed homogeneous deformation. In contrast, the mechanical model allows for heterogeneous deformation within the step to accurately represent the deformation. The ability to characterize heterogeneous deformation and include fault slip – not as a prescription, but as a solution to the governing equations of motion – represents a significant advantage of the mechanical model over the kinematic models.