Abstract Since the 1980s, ground fissures in the Taiyuan Basin have experienced blowouts, resulting in a significant but hidden danger to cities in the Basin. This paper describes the plane and damage characteristics of the ground fissures based on the findings of field investigations and mapping. Most ground fissures in the Basin were determined as linear with pinch-out reappearances on the surface. They were characterized by both horizontal tension with maximum widths and vertical offsets of up to 40 and 15 cm, respectively. The ground fissure strikes in the Basin were observed to be consistent with those of nearby active faults and the long-axis direction of the groundwater depression funnel. The roads and houses that lie across the fissures were determined to be the most affected by ground-fissure disasters in the Basin. The primary damage modes for the roads were vertical offset and surface collapse, whereas buildings experienced foundation failure and tensile damage. Profiles obtained through geological drilling and trench exploration further revealed obvious tension and synsedimentary characteristics of the ground fissures correlated with existing faults. Correlation analysis shows that the formation of ground fissures in Taiyuan Basin is mainly related to faults and excessive groundwater extraction. Theoretical analysis revealed that the size and activity of ground fissures in the Basin were positively correlated with four factors—the dip of faults in an area, regional tensile stress, difference between the thicknesses of aquifers on either side of a fault, and groundwater exploitation. The significant increase in ground fissure activity since the 1980s mainly reflects uncontrolled groundwater discharge. Hence, prevention of excessive groundwater exploitation in the Basin would mitigate the destructive effects of the ground fissures.

中文翻译：

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太原盆地地裂缝特征及成因机制

摘要 1980年代以来，太原盆地地裂缝多次发生井喷，给盆地内的城市带来重大但隐患。本文根据实地调查和测绘的结果，描述了地裂缝的平面特征和损伤特征。盆地中的大多数地裂缝被确定为线性，并在地表再次出现尖灭。它们的特点是具有最大宽度的水平张力和分别高达 40 和 15 厘米的垂直偏移。观察到盆地地裂缝走向与附近活动断层和地下水洼地漏斗长轴方向一致。横跨裂缝的道路和房屋被确定为盆地中受地裂缝灾害影响最大的区域。道路的主要损坏模式是垂直偏移和表面坍塌，而建筑物则经历了地基破坏和拉伸损坏。通过地质钻探和沟渠勘探获得的剖面进一步揭示了与现有断层相关的地裂缝的明显张力和同沉积特征。相关分析表明，太原盆地地裂缝的形成主要与断层和地下水过度开采有关。理论分析表明，盆地地裂缝的大小和活动度与区域内断层倾角、区域拉应力、断层两侧含水层厚度差异、地下水开采等4个因素呈正相关。自 1980 年代以来地裂缝活动的显着增加主要反映了不受控制的地下水排放。因此，防止盆地过度开采地下水将减轻地裂缝的破坏性影响。