Abstract
A numerical algorithm is proposed for the simulation of the earthquake process during a seismic cycle. The algorithm is based on a heterogeneous discrete model of the fault plane and assumes there are two kinds of seismicity: background crack-like earthquakes and asperity-like events. An active zone of the fault contains an asperity distribution with a characteristic elementary area. The background seismicity randomly develops shear stress-free surfaces which tend to surround the asperities as in a 2D percolation process. The model parameters are taken from observations on the Vrancea (Romania) intermediate depth seismic region. The results emphasize the significant role of the geometry in the mechanism of the seismic failure. The algorithm predicts the nonlinear behavior in the frequency-magnitude distribution, the decrease of theb-slope associated with the asperity-like events, the magnitude range of major earthquakes, and their recurrence times.
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Radulian, M., Trifu, CI. & Cârbunar, F.O. Numerical simulation of the earthquake generation process. PAGEOPH 136, 499–514 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00878584
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00878584