State-variable friction for the Burridge-Knopoff model

Two-fold singularities in nonsmooth dynamics-Higher dimensional analogs

When a system of ordinary differential equations is discontinuous along some threshold, its flow may become tangent to that threshold from one side or the other, creating a fold singularity, or from both sides simultaneously, creating a two-fold singularity. The classic two-fold exhibits intricate local dynamics and accumulating sequences of local bifurcations and is by now rather well understood, but it is just the simplest of an infinite hierarchy of two-folds and multi-folds in higher dimensions. These arise when a system is discontinuous along multiple intersecting thresholds, and the induced sliding flows on those thresholds become tangent to their intersections. We show here, surprisingly, that these higher dimensional analogs of the two-fold reduce to the equations of the classic two-fold, providing the first step into their study and a new tool to understand higher dimensional systems with discontinuities.

Nature of the high-speed rupture of the two-dimensional Burridge-Knopoff model of earthquakes

The nature of the high-speed rupture or the main shock of the Burridge-Knopoff spring-block model in two dimensions obeying the rate- and state-dependent friction law is studied by means of extensive computer simulations. It is found that the rupture propagation in larger events is highly anisotropic and irregular in shape on longer length scales, although the model is completely uniform and the emergent rupture-propagation velocity is nearly constant everywhere at the rupture front. The manner of the rupture propagation sometimes mimics the successive ruptures of neighbouring 'asperities' observed in real, large earthquakes. Large events tend to be unilateral, with its epicentre lying at the rim of its rupture zone. The epicentre site of a large event is also located next to the rim of the rupture zone of some past event. Event-size distributions are computed and discussed in comparison with those of the corresponding one-dimensional model. The magnitude distribution exhibits a power-law behaviour resembling the Gutenberg-Richter law for smaller magnitudes, which changes over to a more characteristic behaviour for larger magnitudes. For very large events, the rupture-length distribution exhibits mutually different behaviours in one dimension and in two dimensions, reflecting the difference in the underlying geometry.This article is part of the theme issue 'Statistical physics of fracture and earthquakes'.

Statistical properties of the one-dimensional Burridge-Knopoff model of earthquakes obeying the rate- and state-dependent friction law

Statistical properties of the one-dimensional spring-block (Burridge-Knopoff) model of earthquakes obeying the rate- and state-dependent friction law are studied by extensive computer simulations. The quantities computed include the magnitude distribution, the rupture-length distribution, the main shock recurrence-time distribution, the seismic-time correlations before and after the main shock, the mean slip amount, and the mean stress drop at the main shock, etc. Events of the model can be classified into two distinct categories. One tends to be unilateral with its epicenter located at the rim of the rupture zone of the preceding event, while the other tends to be bilateral with enhanced "characteristic" features resembling the so-called "asperity." For both types of events, the distribution of the rupture length L_{r} exhibits an exponential behavior at larger sizes, ≈exp[-L_{r}/L_{0}] with a characteristic "seismic correlation length" L_{0}. The mean slip as well as the mean stress drop tends to be rupture-length independent for larger events. The continuum limit of the model is examined, where the model is found to exhibit pronounced characteristic features. In the continuum limit, the characteristic rupture length L_{0} is estimated to be ∼100 [km]. This means that, even in a hypothetical homogenous infinite fault, events cannot be indefinitely large in the exponential sense, the upper limit being of order ∼10^{3} kilometers. Implications to real seismicity are discussed.

Mechanical origin of aftershocks

Aftershocks are the most striking evidence of earthquake interactions and the physical mechanisms at the origin of their occurrence are still intensively debated. Novel insights stem from recent results on the influence of the faulting style on the aftershock organisation in magnitude and time. Our study shows that the size of the aftershock zone depends on the fault geometry. We find that positive correlations among parameters controlling aftershock occurrence in time, energy and space are a stable feature of seismicity independently of magnitude range and geographic areas. We explain the ensemble of experimental findings by means of a description of the Earth Crust as an heterogeneous elastic medium coupled with a Maxwell viscoelastic asthenosphere. Our results show that heterogeneous stress distribution in an elastic layer combined with a coupling to a viscous flow are sufficient ingredients to describe the physics of aftershock triggering.