Echelon Formation - Derived Meanings

Derived Meanings

The name has also been adopted by the birdwatching community to describe the familiar V-shaped formations of flights of geese, ducks and other migratory birds, though this more symmetric formation is more strictly defined as a V formation.

In geology an echelon formation is a set of short linear features that overlap or are staggered in a line that runs obliquely to the strike of the individual features. Echelon faults and en echelon veins are examples.

In mathematics, it refers to a kind of matrix where the non-zero elements are shaped in an echelon-like manner.

In road racing, an echelon formation is a diagonal line of racers, which allows cooperative drafting.

In sheet material response to shear stress it is typical for a series of echelon cracks to form. This is commonly seen in asphalt roads subject to shear stress imposed by aseismic fault creep.