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Particle Dynamics Simulations of Rate- and State-dependent Frictional Sliding of Granular Fault Gouge

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Computational Earthquake Science Part I

Part of the book series: Pageoph Topical Volumes ((PTV))

Abstract

Recent simulations using the particle dynamics method (PDM) have successfully captured many features of natural faults zones as illuminated in laboratory studies. However, 2-D simulations conducted on idealized assemblages of particles using simple elastic-frictional contact laws, yield friction values considerably lower than natural materials, and lack time- and velocity-dependent changes in strength that influence dynamic fault slip. Here, preliminary results of new PDM simulations are described, in which particle motions are restricted as a proxy for particle interlocking and out of plane contacts, and time-dependent contact healing is introduced to capture temporal strengthening of granular assemblages. Frictional strength is increased, and in the absence of interparticle rolling, can attain values observed in the laboratory. The resulting mechanical behavior is qualitatively similar to that described by empirically-based rate-state friction laws, providing new physical insight into the discrete mechanics of natural faults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science,MS-126, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Julia K. Morgan

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  1. Julia K. Morgan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Earth and Space Sciences Division Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109-8099, USA

    Andrea Donnellan

  2. QUAKES, Earth Systems Science Computational Centre (ESSCC), Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, Qld, Australia

    Peter Mora

  3. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Matsu’ura

  4. Center for Analysis and Prediction CSB & Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics China Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China

    Xiang-chu Yin

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© 2004 Springer Basel AG

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Morgan, J.K. (2004). Particle Dynamics Simulations of Rate- and State-dependent Frictional Sliding of Granular Fault Gouge. In: Donnellan, A., Mora, P., Matsu’ura, M., Yin, Xc. (eds) Computational Earthquake Science Part I. Pageoph Topical Volumes. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7873-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7873-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-7142-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7873-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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