Fuzzy set concept in structural geology: Example of ductile simple shear

Much of the time, geological data are not accurately known. Instead, geoscientists work with a range of possible data. These data can have a range since they can vary spatially and temporally. In this context, we demonstrate how a well-established structural geological model of velocity profile of ductile simple shear, expressed as an equation, can be furthered by fuzzy set concept. The implementation of fuzzy set concepts in terms of fuzzification in (geo)scientific models takes into consideration the uncertainties of magnitudes of the parameters that define the model. The present study shows that the fuzzified velocity profile of a ductile simple shear zone with parallel boundaries is effectively independent of the dip of the shear zone. This article demonstrates how models of (structural) geological processes can be modelled by fuzzy set approach capable of incorporating a range of magnitudes of parameters.