Variability of earthquake slip and arresting depths in fault models

Abstract eng:
Using rate-and-state fault models with temperature and pore pressure evolution, we explore the effect of depth-dependent fault properties, including permeability and shear-zone width, on earthquake slip and arresting depths as well as their variability which arise in the long-term fault behavior. Our fault models are susceptible to enhanced co-seismic weakening at high slip rates due to flash heating of micro-contacts and thermal pressurization of pore fluids. During large events, the along-depth behavior of dynamic earthquake rupture affects their along-strike development, due to the positive feedback loop between the rupture and weakening processes, even though fault properties are uniform along the strike. The non-uniform slip during one event leads to spatio-temporal complexity in subsequent events, including large variations of depth extent with time. These characteristics suggest that dynamic effects during earthquake ruptures are important factors which contribute to the complexity of earthquake slip and event patterns.

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