Article

This paper primarily investigates the influence of pre-existing structures and combinations of double décollement layers with varying cohesive strengths on the structural deformation of fold-and-thrust belts. The experimental results indicate that in the presence of two décollement layers with equal cohesive strengths, stress preferentially propagates along the upper décollement layer.

This study mainly reveals the influence of detachment layers and pre-existing faults on the deformation of thrust belts. It suggests that the development of duplex structures in the southwestern Tian Shan foreland thrust belt is primarily controlled by the Upper Cretaceous–Paleogene evaporite layers and pre-Cenozoic pre-existing faults(Xin et al.

This study reveals that pre-existing faults influence the propagation of structures in fold-thrust belts, leading to variations in the morphology of subsalt wedges, the number of faults, and the structural styles of suprasalt deformation.