Résumé
We analyze the magnitudes and distributions of displacements on normal faults that are contained within a five layer marly‐limestone/silty‐clay sedimentary sequence. Observations of bedding plane exposures of the well‐exposed mechanically isolated faults reveal a systematic strong decrease in the displacement gradient related to the horizontal lengthening of faults growing at constant height. Because mechanically heterogeneous sequences produce populations of vertically restricted faults having a large range of aspect ratios (length/downdip height), much of the scatter on a displacement‐length diagram can be attributed to nonlinear growth paths. Our results demonstrate the significant influence of layering on fault scaling relations, growth, and maximum dimensions.