Formation of small scale folds and faults in northern Ohio

Folds and faults in the Devonian shales of the Berea area, Ohio have been analyzed on a small scale (several meters) to determine their method of formation. A simple elastic model has been developed to account for stress concentration due to lithostatic pressures induced by local relief. This analytical model is then coupled to the beam–column buckling stability theory. The possibility of failure due to faulting is also examined using the Coulomb criterion. Initial results indicate that local stresses due to topography are a probable cause of these structures, though the possible role of regional tectonic effects cannot be eliminated. The state of the local stress field and the possibility of seismic events have important implications for surface and subsurface design problems.