Experimental evidence of seismic ruptures initiated by aseismic slip
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2023
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| _version_ | 1866929589351088128 |
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| author | Faure, Yohann Bayart, Elsa |
| author_facet | Faure, Yohann Bayart, Elsa |
| contents | Seismic faults release the stress accumulated during tectonic movement through rapid ruptures or slow slip events. The slow slip events play a crucial role in the seismic cycle as they impact the occurrence of earthquakes. However, the mechanisms by which a slow-slip region affects the dynamics of frictionally locked regions remain elusive. Here, building on model laboratory experiments, we establish that a slow-slip region acts as a nucleation center for seismic rupture, thereby enhancing earthquakes' frequency. We emulate slow-slip regions by introducing a granular material patch along part of a laboratory fault. By measuring the response of the fault to shear, we show that the role of the heterogeneity is to serve as a seed crack for rapid ruptures, reducing fault shear resistance. Additionally, by varying the external normal load, we show that the slow-slip region extends beyond the heterogeneity, demonstrating that fault composition is not the only requirement for slow-slip, but that load also plays a role. Our findings demonstrate that fracture concepts single out the very origin of earthquake nucleation and slip dynamics in seismic faults. The interplay between slowly-slipping and locked regions that we identify provides a promising avenue to monitor fault propagation and mitigate seismic hazards. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2312_17511 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Experimental evidence of seismic ruptures initiated by aseismic slip Faure, Yohann Bayart, Elsa Soft Condensed Matter Classical Physics Geophysics Seismic faults release the stress accumulated during tectonic movement through rapid ruptures or slow slip events. The slow slip events play a crucial role in the seismic cycle as they impact the occurrence of earthquakes. However, the mechanisms by which a slow-slip region affects the dynamics of frictionally locked regions remain elusive. Here, building on model laboratory experiments, we establish that a slow-slip region acts as a nucleation center for seismic rupture, thereby enhancing earthquakes' frequency. We emulate slow-slip regions by introducing a granular material patch along part of a laboratory fault. By measuring the response of the fault to shear, we show that the role of the heterogeneity is to serve as a seed crack for rapid ruptures, reducing fault shear resistance. Additionally, by varying the external normal load, we show that the slow-slip region extends beyond the heterogeneity, demonstrating that fault composition is not the only requirement for slow-slip, but that load also plays a role. Our findings demonstrate that fracture concepts single out the very origin of earthquake nucleation and slip dynamics in seismic faults. The interplay between slowly-slipping and locked regions that we identify provides a promising avenue to monitor fault propagation and mitigate seismic hazards. |
| title | Experimental evidence of seismic ruptures initiated by aseismic slip |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter Classical Physics Geophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.17511 |