We investigate arrays of en echelon dike segments and their associated defo
rmation in porous sandstone to infer the segmentation mechanism and the sta
te of stress during dike emplacement. The en echelon arrays are interpreted
as breakdown segments of planar parent dikes that propagated from greater
depth under mixed-mode conditions. Typically, an array consists of either c
ontinuous nonoverlapping stepped segments (offset smaller than segment thic
kness) or overlapping connected segments (offset larger than segment thickn
ess). The deformation associated with the nonoverlapping stepped segment ar
rays consists of newly documented fan-like patterns of deformation bands (l
amellae of crushed detrital quartz grains), whereas the overlapping connect
ed segment arrays consists of net-like patterns of deformation bands. Thus
the patterns of deformation are related to offset geometry and are likely t
o be diagnostic of the states of stress. We simulated the stress and deform
ation fields around interacting breakdown segments by applying a continuum
damage mechanics model. The simulation results mainly illustrate the stress
dependence of the damage distribution and the sensitivity of the damage di
stribution to the geometry of the segment offset and the mutuality of segme
nt propagation. By changing the applied stress and by controlling the segme
nt tip growth, symmetric and asymmetric distributions of damage were produc
ed. We describe which aspects of the generated damage zones satisfactorily
correlate with field observations. Damage mechanics simulations are useful
tools for studying the state of stress during dike emplacement.