Physics-based elastodynamic modeling of interacting frictional shear cracks

Abstract eng:
Earthquake sources are frictional shear cracks inside the earth. They often interact by triggering one another. These interactions and their governing physical mechanisms can be studied through physics-based elastodynamic modeling. Here we model the interaction of repeating earthquakes in the framework of rate-and-state fault models using state-of-the-art simulation methods that reproduce both realistic seismic events and long-term earthquake sequences. Our simulations enable comparison among several types of stress transfer that occur between the repeating events. Our major finding is that postseismic creep dominates the interaction. Our findings open a possibility of using interaction of repeating sequences to estimate friction properties of creeping segments. As we refine our model and incorporate enhanced dynamic weakening mechanisms, we are able to reproduce realistic repeating earthquake sequences observed at Parkfield, California.

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