SCEC Award Number 12071 View PDF
Proposal Category Individual Proposal (Integration and Theory)
Proposal Title Heterogeneity, rotations and volumetric strain near faults from focal mechanism data
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Yehuda Ben-Zion University of Southern California
Other Participants USC grad student Yaman Ozakin
SCEC Priorities 2d, 3c, 3d SCEC Groups SDOT, Seismology, FARM
Report Due Date 03/15/2013 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
 Studies under this project attempt to quantify large-scale heterogeneities, rotations and volumetric changes of stress-strain fields around large rupture zones. The research employs a combination of observational and theoretical results focusing on the following two main research directions. (i) Detailed analyses of rotations of double-couple-constrained focal mechanisms in space-time regions with high density of earthquakes. (ii) Derivations of full source tensors of earthquakes including isotropic components of radiation. The study supported a PhD student and led to two submitted papers and several related meeting abstracts. The results contribute to improved derivations and interpretation of earthquake source properties. This, in turn, contributes to improved understanding of physical processes in major southern California fault zones.
Intellectual Merit The theoretical connections between rock damage in earthquake source volumes, isotropic radiation and rotations of double-couple-constrained mechanisms provide new signals that can be used to understand earthquake and fault processes.
The studies contribute to the following long-term research goals of SCEC4: Seismology – “… improving the estimation of source parameters…”, “Investigate near-fault crustal properties, evaluate fault structural complexity…” Earthquake Geology – “…damage in relation to the rupture propagation processes…”
Broader Impacts The results contribute to improved derivations and interpretation of earthquake source properties. This, in turn, contributes to improved understanding of physical processes in major southern California fault zones.
The study supported a PhD student
Exemplary Figure Fig. 1 (caption and credit in the figure)