Origin of fractures, Martian polygonal terrain

It has been proposed that the origin of the polygonally fractured terrain on Mars is due to stress caused by differential settling of material deposited over an irregular base topography. The eventual goal of this study is to evaluate this proposal by construction of mathematical models for this process. These models will attempt to determine what combinations of base topography, covering material composition, and depositional rate would cause the fractures observed. Because fracture formation would largely be a function of generated stress, the first step in modeling is calculation of stresses created during settlement.