Surface Rupture Investigation of the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 Earthquake of May 12th, 2008, West Sichuan, and Analysis of Its Occurrence Setting
四川汶川Ms 8.0地震地表破裂构造初步调查与发震背景分析

Field investigation and measurements of the surface ruptures were conducted immediately after the occurrence of the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 Earthquake of May 12th,2008.The data of surface deformation and co-seismic displacements obtained during this excursion confirm that the Wenchuan earthquake belongs to the reverse faulting type,the surface ruptures occurred mostly along the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault zone and partly along the Guanxian-Anxian fault zone.The surface rupture zone produced by the Wenchuan earthquake exhibits characteristic segmentation behavior,its southern segment between the Yingxiu Township and Beichuan county is reverse faulting dominated,while the segment north of Beichuan county shows important dextral strike-slip component.