Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics
facilityPrague, Czechia
Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics (Czechia). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.
Top-cited papers from Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics
Abstract. Despite recent research identifying a clear anthropogenic impact on glacier recession, the effect of recent climate change on glacier-related hazards is at present unclear. Here we present the first global spatio-temporal assessment of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) focusing explicitly on lake drainage following moraine dam failure. These floods occur as mountain glaciers recede and downwaste. GLOFs can have an enormous impact on downstream communities and infrastructure. Our assessment of GLOFs associated with the rapid drainage of moraine-dammed lakes provides insights into the historical trends of GLOFs and their distributions under current and future global climate change. We observe a clear global increase in GLOF frequency and their regularity around 1930, which likely represents a lagged response to post-Little Ice Age warming. Notably, we also show that GLOF frequency and regularity – rather unexpectedly – have declined in recent decades even during a time of rapid glacier recession. Although previous studies have suggested that GLOFs will increase in response to climate warming and glacier recession, our global results demonstrate that this has not yet clearly happened. From an assessment of the timing of climate forcing, lag times in glacier recession, lake formation and moraine-dam failure, we predict increased GLOF frequencies during the next decades and into the 22nd century.
Abstract. For a quantitative assessment of debris flow risk, it is essential to consider not only the hazardous process itself but also to perform an analysis of its consequences. This should include the estimation of the expected monetary losses as the product of the hazard with a given magnitude and the vulnerability of the elements exposed. A quantifiable integrated approach of both hazard and vulnerability is becoming a required practice in risk reduction management. This study aims at developing physical vulnerability curves for debris flows through the use of a dynamic run-out model. Dynamic run-out models for debris flows are able to calculate physical outputs (extension, depths, velocities, impact pressures) and to determine the zones where the elements at risk could suffer an impact. These results can then be applied to consequence analyses and risk calculations. On 13 July 2008, after more than two days of intense rainfall, several debris and mud flows were released in the central part of the Valtellina Valley (Lombardy Region, Northern Italy). One of the largest debris flows events occurred in a village called Selvetta. The debris flow event was reconstructed after extensive field work and interviews with local inhabitants and civil protection teams. The Selvetta event was modelled with the FLO-2D program, an Eulerian formulation with a finite differences numerical scheme that requires the specification of an input hydrograph. The internal stresses are isotropic and the basal shear stresses are calculated using a quadratic model. The behaviour and run-out of the flow was reconstructed. The significance of calculated values of the flow depth, velocity, and pressure were investigated in terms of the resulting damage to the affected buildings. The physical damage was quantified for each affected structure within the context of physical vulnerability, which was calculated as the ratio between the monetary loss and the reconstruction value. Three different empirical vulnerability curves were obtained, which are functions of debris flow depth, impact pressure, and kinematic viscosity, respectively. A quantitative approach to estimate the vulnerability of an exposed element to a debris flow which can be independent of the temporal occurrence of the hazard event is presented.
Abstract We describe the origin of felt seismicity during the hydraulic fracturing of the Carboniferous Bowland Shale at the Preese Hall 1 exploration well near Blackpool in the UK during 2011. The seismicity resulted from the interaction of hydraulic fracturing and a fault, the location of which was unknown at the time but has subsequently been located and does not intersect the well borehole. Waveform cross correlation is used to detect 50 events in the sequence. A representative hypocenter and strike‐slip focal mechanism is calculated using the best recorded seismic event. The hypocenter is calculated to lie 300–400 m east, and 330–360 m below the injection point and shown to lie on a fault imaged using 3‐D seismic at a depth of about 2930 m. The 3‐D survey shows that not only the event hypocenter but also the focal mechanism correlates strongly with a subsequently identifiable transpressional fault formed during the Late Carboniferous (Variscan) basin inversion.
Abstract Source locations provide fundamental information on earthquakes and lay the foundation for seismic monitoring at all scales. Seismic source location as a classical inverse problem has experienced significant methodological progress during the past century. Unlike the conventional traveltime‐based location methods that mainly utilize kinematic information, a new category of waveform‐based methods, including partial waveform stacking, time reverse imaging, wavefront tomography, and full waveform inversion, adapted from migration or stacking techniques in exploration seismology has emerged. Waveform‐based methods have shown promising results in characterizing weak seismic events at multiple scales, especially for abundant microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing in unconventional and geothermal reservoirs or foreshock and aftershock activity potentially preceding tectonic earthquakes. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the current status of waveform‐based location methods, through elaboration of the methodological principles, categorization, and connections, as well as illustration of the applications to natural and induced/triggered seismicity, ranging from laboratory acoustic emission to field hydraulic fracturing‐induced seismicity, regional tectonic, and volcanic earthquakes. Taking into account recent developments in instrumentation and the increasing availability of more powerful computational resources, we highlight recent accomplishments and prevailing challenges of different waveform‐based location methods and what they promise to offer in the near future.
The Hanford site in Washington State houses ~56 million gallons of radioactive wastes stored in 177 underground tanks. The waste must be immobilized and permanently stored, and the plan is to separate the tank wastes into low activity waste (LAW) and high-level waste (HLW) streams. The U.S. Department of Energy is building a Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at Hanford site to separately vitrify these two waste streams in borosilicate glass using Joule-heated ceramic melters (JHCM). Although the process of nuclear waste vitrification seems to be well established, in practicality, it is faced with complex problems starting from the design of glass compositions, to processing in melters and long-term performance of the final vitrified waste forms. The article presents an overview of our current understanding of critical challenges related to the development and performance of HLW glasses. Keywords: Nuclear waste, Borosilicate, Glass, Chemical durability, Crystallization
The Variscan evolution of the Moldanubian sector in the Bohemian Massif consists of at least two distinct tectonometamorphic phases: the Moravo-Moldanubian Phase (345-330 Ma) and the Bavarian Phase . The Moravo-Moldanubian Phase involved the overthrusting of the Moldanubian over the Moravian Zone, a process which may have followed the subduction of an intervening oceanic domain (a part of the Rheiic Ocean) beneath a Moldanubian (Armorican) active continental margin. The Moravo-Moldanubian Phase also involved the exhumation of the HP-HT rocks of the Gfhl Unit into the Moldanubian middle crust, represented by the Monotonous and Variegated series. The tectonic emplacement of the HP-HT rocks was accompanied by intrusions of distinct magnesio-potassic granitoid melts (the 335-338 Ma old Durbachite plutons), which contain components from a strongly enriched lithospheric mantle source. Two parallel belts of HP-HT rocks associated with Durbachite intrusions can be distinguished, a western one at the Tepl-Barrandian and an eastern one close to the Moravian boundary. The combined occurrence of Durbachite plutons and HP rocks would be difficult to understand in terms of the previous tectonic models, in which the Gfhl Unit was viewed as a large flat nappe on top of the Moldanubian Zone. In recent studies it has been suggested that Saxothuringian crust was subducted eastwards under the Moldanubian Zone during the Early Carboniferous. We discuss here an alternative tectonic scenario, in which the south-eastern Bohemian Massif is tentatively interpreted as an accretionary wedge successively underplated by material of a Gfhl and a Moravian terrane. It is suggested that parts of the HP-HT rocks of the Gfhl Terrane were exhumed along the Moravian-Moldanubian plate contact, while earlier subducted portions were steeply uplifted close to the Tepl-Barrandian block, which may have functioned as a rigid backstop of the accretionary wedge. Final stages of the Moravo-Moldanubian Phase were characterised by a strong LP-HT regional metamorphism at c. 335-340 Ma, which may be an expression of increased mantle heat flow after slab break-off, and is seen mainly in the Ostrong Unit along the central axis of the Moravo-Moldanubian Fold Belt. As indicated from palaeomagnetic data, the (already established) Moravo-Moldanubian Fold Belt has then (around 330 Ma) rotated by about 90 clockwise, while the palaeogeographic position of Baltica remained widely unchanged. This implies that the Moravian Zone lost its former contact to Baltica and that a major Late Variscan fragmentation of the Old Red continental margin must have occurred in the Moravo-Silesian area at that time. Also within the Bohemian Massif, this rotation event may have caused a significant Late Variscan (fault bounded) disturbance of previous terrane relationships.
This article reviews the development of artificial bone substitutes from their older single-phase forms to novel multi-phase composites, mimicking the composition and architecture of natural bone tissue. The new generation of bone implants should be bioactive, i.e. they should induce the desired cellular responses, leading to integration of the material into the natural tissue and stimulating self-healing processes. Therefore, the first part of the review explains the common principles of the cell-material interaction and summarizes the strategies how to improve the biocompatibility and bioactivity of the materials by modifying the physico-chemical properties of the material surface, such as surface chemistry, wettability, electrical charge, rigidity, microroughness and especially nanoroughness. The latter has been shown to stimulate preferentially the growth of osteoblasts in comparison with other competitive cell types, such as fibroblasts, which could prevent fibrous tissue formation upon implantation. The second more specialized part of the review deals with materials suitable for bone contact and substitution, particularly novel polymer-based composites reinforced with fibres or inorganic particles and containing bioactive components, such as crystals of hydroxyapatite or other calcium phosphates, synthetic ligands for cell adhesion receptors or growth factors. Moreover, if they are degradable, they can be gradually replaced with a regenerating tissue.
Abstract The Košice meteorite fall occurred in eastern Slovakia on February 28, 2010, 22:25 UT . The very bright bolide was imaged by three security video cameras from Hungary. Detailed bolide light curves were obtained through clouds by radiometers on seven cameras of the European Fireball Network. Records of sonic waves were found on six seismic and four infrasonic stations. An atmospheric dust cloud was observed the next morning before sunrise. After careful calibration, the video records were used to compute the bolide trajectory and velocity. The meteoroid, of estimated mass of 3500 kg, entered the atmosphere with a velocity of 15 km s −1 on a trajectory with a slope of 60° to the horizontal. The largest fragment ceased to be visible at a height of 17 km, where it was decelerated to 4.5 km s −1 . A maximum brightness of absolute stellar magnitude about −18 was reached at a height of 36 km. We developed a detailed model of meteoroid atmospheric fragmentation to fit the observed light curve and deceleration. We found that Košice was a weak meteoroid, which started to fragment under the dynamic pressure of only 0.1 MP a and fragmented heavily under 1 MP a. In total, 78 meteorites were recovered in the predicted fall area during official searches. Other meteorites were found by private collectors. Known meteorite masses ranged from 0.56 g to 2.37 kg. The meteorites were classified as ordinary chondrites of type H5 and shock stage S3. The heliocentric orbit had a relatively large semimajor axis of 2.7 AU and aphelion distance of 4.5 ± 0.5 AU . Backward numerical integration of the preimpact orbit indicates possible large variations of the orbital elements in the past due to resonances with Jupiter.
The unprecedented bimetallic 2D coordination polymer {Fe[(Hg(SCN)3 )2 ](4,4'-bipy)2 }n exhibits a thermal high-spin (HS)↔low-spin (LS) staircase-like conversion characterized by a multi-step dependence of the HS molar fraction γHS . Between the fully HS (γHS =1) and LS (γHS =0) phases, two steps associated with different ordering appear in terms of spin-state concentration waves (SSCW). On the γHS ≈0.5 step, a periodic SSCW forms with a HS-LS-HS-LS sequence. On the γHS ≈0.34 step, the 4D superspace crystallography structural refinement reveals an aperiodic SSCW, with a HS-LS sequence incommensurate with the molecular lattice. The formation of these different long-range spatially ordered structures of LS and HS states during the multi-step spin-crossover is discussed within the framework of "Devil's staircase"-type transitions. Spatially modulated phases are known in various types of materials but are uniquely related to molecular HS/LS bistability in this case.
Many connective tissue diseases and defects are associated with poor synthesis or excessive degradation of collagen. The modern tissue engineering approach is to replace the defective site via the implantation of a biocompatible scaffold which serves as a carrier for cell incorporation, proliferation, and growth. Collagen is widely used in the field of clinical medicine in connection with both hard and soft tissue applications. However, certain collagen properties such as poor dimensional stability, poor in vivo mechanical strength, low degree of elasticity, variable nature in terms of enzymatic degradation, crosslinking density, fiber size, trace impurities, and side effects frequently limit both its analysis and application. This review focuses particularly on the processing and modification of collagen type I with respect to its biological and mechanical properties. The processing of collagen into scaffolds is crucial to mimic successfully the extracellular matrices. Moreover, the review suggests several ways in which the most common problems related to the isolation, handling, electrospinning, and crosslinking of collagen can be overcome while maintaining its native character as much as possible. Further, the review provides a summary of the analytical methods available for the physicochemical characterization of collagen with respect to both its molecular and submolecular structure.
The Rychlebské hory Mountain region in the Sudetes (NE Bohemian Massif) provides a natural laboratory for studies of postorogenic landscape evolution. This work reveals both the exhumation history of the region and the paleoactivity along the Sudetic Marginal Fault (SMF) using zircon (U‐Th)/He (ZHe), apatite fission track (AFT), and apatite (U‐Th)/He (AHe) dating of crystalline basement and postorogenic sedimentary samples. Most significantly, and in direct contradiction of traditional paleogeographic reconstructions, this work has found evidence of a large Cretaceous sea and regional burial (to >6.5 km) of the Carboniferous‐Permian basement in the Late Cretaceous (∼95–80 Ma). During the burial by sediments of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin System, the SMF acted as a normal fault as documented by offset ZHe ages across the fault. At 85–70 Ma, the basin was inverted, Cretaceous strata eroded, and basement blocks were exhumed to the near surface at a rate of ∼300 m/Ma as evidenced by Late Cretaceous–Paleocene AFT ages and thermal modeling results. There is no appreciable difference in AFT and AHe ages across the fault, suggesting that the SMF acted as a reverse fault during exhumation. In the late Eocene–Oligocene, the basement was locally heated to <70°C by magmatic activity related to opening of the Eger rift system. Neogene or younger thermal activity was not recorded in the thermochronological data, confirming that late Cenozoic uplift and erosion of the basement blocks was limited to less than ∼1.5 km in the study area.
Bioprinting is a modern tool suitable for creating cell scaffolds and tissue or organ carriers from polymers that mimic tissue properties and create a natural environment for cell development. A wide range of polymers, both natural and synthetic, are used, including extracellular matrix and collagen-based polymers. Bioprinting technologies, based on syringe deposition or laser technologies, are optimal tools for creating precise constructs precisely from the combination of collagen hydrogel and cells. This review describes the different stages of bioprinting, from the extraction of collagen hydrogels and bioink preparation, over the parameters of the printing itself, to the final testing of the constructs. This study mainly focuses on the use of physically crosslinked high-concentrated collagen hydrogels, which represents the optimal way to create a biocompatible 3D construct with sufficient stiffness. The cell viability in these gels is mainly influenced by the composition of the bioink and the parameters of the bioprinting process itself (temperature, pressure, cell density, etc.). In addition, a detailed table is included that lists the bioprinting parameters and composition of custom bioinks from current studies focusing on printing collagen gels without the addition of other polymers. Last but not least, our work also tries to refute the often-mentioned fact that highly concentrated collagen hydrogel is not suitable for 3D bioprinting and cell growth and development.
This paper describes a study of the nature and the accessibility of the acid sites in micromesoporous mordenite zeolites obtained by desilication and dealumination and analysis of their activity and selectivity in the hydroisomerization of n-hexane. Alkaline–acid, acid–alkaline–acid, and fluorination–alkaline–acid postsynthesis treatments were employed for the preparation of micromesoporous mordenites. The FTIR spectra of adsorbed d3-acetonitrille, 27Al MAS NMR, HR-TEM, and N2 adsorption were used for quantitative analysis of the Brønsted and Lewis sites, the coordination of Al atoms, and the textural properties. The alkaline treatment causes desilication, preferably occurring along the crystal defects and resulting in the formation of a secondary mesoporous structure characterized by 5–20 nm cavities and the formation of extraframework (AlEx) species and terminal Si–OH groups. The AlEx species formed by hydrolysis of perturbed or dislodged framework Al easily restrict part of the pseudomonodimensional channel structure of mordenite. The subsequent removal of AlEx by mild acid leaching or simultaneous removal of Si and Al atoms by desilication of fluorinated zeolite result in a micromesoporous structure with a large number of unrestricted channel openings and lead to a large increase in the accessibility of OH groups for n-hexane. Thus, the sequential leaching treatments enable the formation of active acid sites in an environment of nonrestricted microporous channels with simultaneous enhancement of accessibility of the active sites and molecular transport. It is shown that the micromesoporous structure with high concentration of Brønsted sites of enhanced accessibility directs the hydroisomerization reaction toward high yields of branched isomers and shortening of the main 12-ring channels and that the larger numbers of channel openings result in an increase in selectivity, limiting nonselective subsequent cracking reactions.
BACKGROUND: Collagen-based scaffolds provide a promising option for the treatment of bone defects. One of the key parameters of such scaffolds consists of porosity, including pore size. However, to date, no agreement has been found with respect to the methodology for pore size evaluation. Since the determination of the exact pore size value is not possible, the comparison of the various methods applied is complicated. Hence, this study focuses on the comparison of two widely-used methods for the characterization of porosity-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). METHODS: 7 types of collagen-based composite scaffold models were prepared by means of lyophilization and collagen cross-linking. Micro-CT analysis was performed in 3D and in 2D (pore size parameters were: major diameter, mean thickness, biggest inner circle diameter and area-equivalent circle diameter). Afterwards, pore sizes were analyzed in the same specimens by an image analysis of SEM microphotographs. The results were statistically evaluated. The comparison of the various approaches to the evaluation of pore size was based on coefficients of variance and the semi-quantitative assessment of selected qualities (e.g. the potential for direct 3D analysis, whole specimen analysis, non-destructivity). RESULTS: The pore size values differed significantly with respect to the parameters applied. Median values of pore size values were ranging from 20 to 490 µm. The SEM values were approximately 3 times higher than micro-CT 3D values for each specimen. The Mean thickness was the most advantageous micro-CT 2D approach. Coefficient of variance revealed no differences among pore size parameters (except major diameter). The semi-quantitative comparison approach presented pore size parameters in descending order with regard to the advantages thereof as follows: (1) micro-CT 3D, (2) mean thickness and SEM, (3) biggest inner circle diameter, major diameter and area equivalent circle diameter. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that micro-CT 3D evaluation provides the most beneficial overall approach. Micro-CT 2D analysis (mean thickness) is advantageous in terms of its time efficacy. SEM is still considered as gold standard for its widespread use and high resolution. However, exact comparison of pore size analysis in scaffold materials remains a challenge.
Abstract. Debris flow hazard modelling at medium (regional) scale has been subject of various studies in recent years. In this study, hazard zonation was carried out, incorporating information about debris flow initiation probability (spatial and temporal), and the delimitation of the potential runout areas. Debris flow hazard zonation was carried out in the area of the Consortium of Mountain Municipalities of Valtellina di Tirano (Central Alps, Italy). The complexity of the phenomenon, the scale of the study, the variability of local conditioning factors, and the lacking data limited the use of process-based models for the runout zone delimitation. Firstly, a map of hazard initiation probabilities was prepared for the study area, based on the available susceptibility zoning information, and the analysis of two sets of aerial photographs for the temporal probability estimation. Afterwards, the hazard initiation map was used as one of the inputs for an empirical GIS-based model (Flow-R), developed at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). An estimation of the debris flow magnitude was neglected as the main aim of the analysis was to prepare a debris flow hazard map at medium scale. A digital elevation model, with a 10 m resolution, was used together with landuse, geology and debris flow hazard initiation maps as inputs of the Flow-R model to restrict potential areas within each hazard initiation probability class to locations where debris flows are most likely to initiate. Afterwards, runout areas were calculated using multiple flow direction and energy based algorithms. Maximum probable runout zones were calibrated using documented past events and aerial photographs. Finally, two debris flow hazard maps were prepared. The first simply delimits five hazard zones, while the second incorporates the information about debris flow spreading direction probabilities, showing areas more likely to be affected by future debris flows. Limitations of the modelling arise mainly from the models applied and analysis scale, which are neglecting local controlling factors of debris flow hazard. The presented approach of debris flow hazard analysis, associating automatic detection of the source areas and a simple assessment of the debris flow spreading, provided results for consequent hazard and risk studies. However, for the validation and transferability of the parameters and results to other study areas, more testing is needed.
ABSTRACT Direct seismic waves (P- or S-waves) are used to locate and further characterize microseismic events. The resolution of information obtained from direct waves depends on the peak frequencies of the waveforms. The peak frequency results from combination of the source, propagation, and the receiver effects. For frequencies below the corner frequency, propagation effects control the peak frequency in observed seismograms of microseismic events. The frequency dependence of direct body waves can be modeled by attenuation, specifically the global attenuation factor. This model is consistent with observed data along surface profiles explaining the difference between the peak frequencies of P- and S-waves. In addition, the model is consistent with the peak frequencies observed on downhole monitoring arrays. This can be used to invert effective attenuation providing additional unique measurement from microseismic events. The corner frequency can be estimated from the average stress drop and analytical source models such as a circular crack model. Typical stress drops for various magnitude ranges are discussed. The peak frequencies are usually below the corner frequencies of microseismic events smaller than moment magnitude 0.7 for surface monitoring and moment magnitude −0.5 for downhole monitoring. Understanding of the frequency dependence of the direct waves allows us to optimally design monitoring networks and mainly invert effective attenuation providing unique measurement from microseismic monitoring.
Previous high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies of the zeolite SSZ-57 could not fully elucidate the structural basis for its puzzling adsorption behavior, which appears to be intermediate between that of a medium- (10-ring) and a large-pore (12-ring) zeolite. Now by applying advanced crystallographic techniques (structure solution in four-dimensional space and interpretation of three-dimensional diffuse scattering by Monte Carlo simulation) and crystal chemistry considerations to high-quality single-crystal x-ray diffraction data collected on a microcrystal (about 2 micrometers by 2 micrometers by 8 micrometers), we have been able to derive a comprehensive description of its silicate framework structure. The framework is related to that of ZSM-11 but is commensurately modulated along the c axis (P4m2, a = b = 20.091 Å, c = 110.056 Å) to yield a structure with a 12-ring:10-ring ratio of 1:15. Disorder of the 12-rings results in a three-dimensional 10-ring channel system with large isolated pockets. The structure helps to clarify the material's catalytic activity.
This comparative study of various surface treatments of commercially available implant materials is intended as guidance for orientation among particular surface treatment methods in term of the cell reaction of normal human osteoblasts and blood coagulation. The influence of physicochemical surface parameters such as roughness, surface free energy and wettability on the response of human osteoblasts in the immediate vicinity of implants and on the blood coagulation was studied. The osteoblast proliferation was monitored and the expression of tissue mediators (TNF-alpha, IL-8, MMP-1, bone alkaline phosphatase, VCAM-1, TGF-beta) was evaluated after the cell cultivation onto a wide range of commercially available materials (titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy with various surface treatments, CrCoMo alloy, zirconium oxide ceramics, polyethylene and carbon/carbon composite). The formation of a blood clot was investigated on the samples immersed in a freshly drawn whole rabbit blood using scanning electron microscope. The surfaces with an increased osteoblast proliferation exhibited particularly higher surface roughness (here R(a) 3.5 microm) followed by a high polar part of the surface free energy whereas the effect of wettability played a minor role. The surface roughness was also the main factor regulating the blood coagulation. The blood clot formation analysis showed a rapid coagulum formation on the rough titanium-based surfaces. The titanium with an etching treatment was considered as the most suitable candidate for healing into the bone tissue due to high osteoblast proliferation, the highest production of osteogenesis markers and low production of inflammatory cytokines and due to the most intensive blood clot formation.
Abstract Passive seismic monitoring of microseismic events induced in oil or gas reservoirs is known as microseismic monitoring. Microseismic monitoring is used to understand the process of hydraulic fracturing, which is a reservoir stimulation technique. We use a new geomechanical model with bedding plane slippage induced by hydraulic fractures within shale reservoirs to explain seismicity observed in a typical case study of hydraulic fracturing of a shale gas play in North America. Microseismic events propagating from the injection point are located at similar depths (within the uncertainty of their locations), and their source mechanisms are dominated by shear failure with both dip‐slip and strike‐slip senses of motion. The prevailing dip‐slip mechanisms have one nearly vertical nodal plane perpendicular to the minimum horizontal stress axis, while the other nodal plane is nearly horizontal. Such dip‐slip mechanisms can be explained by slippage along bedding planes activated by the aseismic opening of vertical hydraulic fractures. The model explains the observed prevailing orientation of the shear planes of the microseismic events, as well as the large difference between seismic and hydraulic energy.
We present a case study of detailed source mechanism inversion in microseismic dataset from hydraulic fracturing of a shale gas play. This study uses surface monitoring array to invert shear and non-shear parts of the source mechanisms from 75 individual events to characterize relationship between hydraulic fracture and induced seismicity. We observe source mechanisms dominated by shear failure with dip-slip and strike-slip sense of motion. We propose a new model explaining source mechanisms induced by hydraulic fracturing based on bedding plane slippage.