pure and applied geophysics

, Volume 143, Issue 4, pp 633–653 | Cite as

A four-parameter, two degree-of-freedom block-spring model: Effect of the driver velocity

  • Jose L. Brun
  • Javier B. Gomez
Article
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Abstract

We analyze the effect of tectonic plate velocities in the earthquake pattern using a simple mass-spring model of the Burridge and Knopoff type with two blocks and a velocity-weakening friction law. Previous versions of the two-block model assume a steady driver during slip events (limit of zero driver velocity), which, in some cases makes necessary the introduction of artificial parameters to start the numerical integration of the equations of motion at impending slip of any block. Still maintaining the condition of zero driver velocity during slip, we shall introduce a procedure to start the numerical integration without introducing artificial parameters and this will be done by using a linearized version of the equations of motion valid for small velocities and considering nonzero driver velocity. We also introduce a four parameter model in which the driver velocity enters the equations during the whole simulation, and analyze the effect of the new parameter, the driver velocity, in the displacement and time patterns of blocks motion, directly related to earthquake statistics such as coseismic slips and average repeat times.

Key words

Block-spring models chaos earthquake patterns 
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Copyright information

© Birkhäuser-Verlag 1994

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jose L. Brun
    • 1
  • Javier B. Gomez
    • 2
  1. 1.Dpto. de Física AplicadaUniv. de ZaragozaZaragozaSpain
  2. 2.Dpto. de GeologíaUniv. de ZaragozaZaragozaSpain

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