Smoothing and extrapolation of crustal stress orientation measurements

Journal Article · Sat Feb 10 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB095iB02p01155· OSTI ID:5010180

Hansen, K M; Mount, V S ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

The theory and mechanics of a statistical smoothing algorithm for estimating stress fields based on observed data are described. Incorporated into the algorithm are tunable parameters which allow the user to adjust the smoothness and fidelity of the fitted stress field. In addition, the user has the option of using robustness weights, or to weight the predicted stress field by assigning quality ranks to each data point. Fitted stress fields can be displayed as either a gridded map (axes of maximum, or minimum, horizontal stress are shown as short bars located at each point in an evenly spaced grid), or as a stress trajectory map. Examples of predicted stress fields for southern California and western Canada, based on borehole elongation data, are displayed as stress trajectory maps. A predicted paleostress field for the Spanish Peaks intrusion complex in Colorado, based on vertical dike orientations, is displayed as a gridded map. The smoothing algorithm is not limited to the analysis of stress orientation data. Any data consisting of a set of undirected lines measured at discrete locations are appropriate for input; possible candidates include strain data, mineral or intersection lineations, and lineaments.

• OSTI ID: 5010180
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 95:B2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CONTINENTAL CRUST
STRESS ANALYSIS
ALGORITHMS
BOREHOLES
CALIFORNIA
CANADA
COLORADO
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA PROCESSING
DIKES
ELONGATION
LINEAMENTS
ORIENTATION
PLUTONIC ROCKS
STRESSES
CAVITIES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH CRUST
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences