Gravity-driven Deepwater Fold-and-thrust Belts (GDFB) are the result of gravitational collapse of the sedimentary pile along the continental shelf. These systems can be described in the framework of the Critical Coulomb Wedge (CCW) mechanics to infer their mechanical properties and hydrological conditions. However, not all GDFB can be considered as critical wedges and their mechanical/hydrological parameters should be critically assessed. GDFB driven by gravity spreading and detached onto brittle overpressured shales are the most suitable systems to be modeled via the original CCW theory. In addition, the self-limiting mechanism of gravitational collapse implies that GDFB can reach the critical state only during limited time intervals (in some cases less than ∼10 Myr), in the presence of large sedimentary loads and shortening rates higher than 1.5–2 mm/yr. We present a compilation of GDFB that most likely represent examples of critical tapers, almost exclusively located downdip of large deltas. We then analyze several analytical solutions to the CCW equation, constrained by laboratory and geophysical data, to discuss the role of material friction and fluid pressures in GDFB. Low friction and moderate fluid overpressure localized in the basal detachment are both essential to explain the observed shape of GDFB. Frictional and overpressure discontinuities between detachment and the overlying wedge are likely to be maintained in GDFB.

重力驱动的深水褶皱冲断带 (GDFB) 是沿大陆架的沉积桩重力坍塌的结果。这些系统可以在临界库仑楔 (CCW) 力学的框架中进行描述，以推断它们的机械特性和水文条件。然而，并不是所有的 GDFB 都可以被视为关键楔子，它们的机械/水文参数应该被严格评估。GDFB 由重力扩散驱动并分离到脆性超压页岩上，是最适合通过原始 CCW 理论建模的系统。此外，重力坍塌的自限性机制意味着 GDFB 只能在有限的时间间隔内（在某些情况下小于 10 Myr），在存在大的沉积载荷和高于 1 的缩短率的情况下才能达到临界状态。5–2 毫米/年。我们提供了 GDFB 的汇编，它最有可能代表临界锥度的例子，几乎完全位于大三角洲的下倾角。然后，我们分析了受实验室和地球物理数据约束的 CCW 方程的几个解析解，以讨论材料摩擦和流体压力在 GDFB 中的作用。基底脱离中局部的低摩擦和中等流体超压对于解释观察到的 GDFB 形状都是必不可少的。GDFB 中可能会保持脱离和上覆楔形之间的摩擦和超压不连续性。讨论材料摩擦和流体压力在 GDFB 中的作用。基底脱离中局部的低摩擦和中等流体超压对于解释观察到的 GDFB 形状都是必不可少的。GDFB 中可能会保持脱离和上覆楔形之间的摩擦和超压不连续性。讨论材料摩擦和流体压力在 GDFB 中的作用。基底脱离中局部的低摩擦和中等流体超压对于解释观察到的 GDFB 形状都是必不可少的。GDFB 中可能会保持脱离和上覆楔形之间的摩擦和超压不连续性。