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Beyond Backslip: Improvement of Earthquake Simulators from New Hybrid Loading Conditions

Bruce E. Shaw

Published August 7, 2019, SCEC Contribution #9358, 2019 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #185

A standard approach to loading earthquake simulators involving complex fault system geometries is the backslip method, where fault slip-rates are specified and stressing rates giving the specified slip-rates are calculated and imposed on the system. This often results in singularities in stressing rate at fault boundaries, and unrealistic hypocenters of events associated with these singularities. We present a new generalized hybrid loading method which combines the ability to drive faults at desired slip-rates, while loading with more regularized stressing rates, allowing faults to slip in a more natural way. The resulting behavior shows improvement in the depth dependence of seismicity, the distribution of sizes of events, and the depth dependence of slip. We discuss as well the physical implications of the new type of loading.

Key Words
Earthquake simulators, Seismicity, Depth dependence of slip

Citation
Shaw, B. E. (2019, 08). Beyond Backslip: Improvement of Earthquake Simulators from New Hybrid Loading Conditions. Poster Presentation at 2019 SCEC Annual Meeting.


Related Projects & Working Groups
Fault and Rupture Mechanics (FARM)