Problems of folding in the earth’s stratified crust

The problem of folding in the Earth’s stratified crust is addressed within the framework of solid mechanics. The history and formulation of the problem and approaches to its solution are briefly outlined. The initial stage of folding in strata with different mechanical properties is studied in detail using the piecewise-homogeneous medium model and the three-dimensional theory of stability. Conclusions of applied and fundamental importance are drawn from an analysis of solutions to a wide range of specific problems __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 3–44, February 2007.