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Laboratory Earthquakes

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Abstract.

We report on the experimental observation of the phenomenon of, spontaneously nucleated, supershear rupture and on the visualization of the mechanism of subRayleigh to supershear rupture transition in frictionally-held interfaces. The laboratory experiments mimic natural earthquakes. The results suggest that under certain conditions supershear rupture propagation can be facilitated during large earthquakes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA

    Ares J. Rosakis

  2. Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA

    Hiroo Kanamori

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, 35 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A4, Canada

    Kaiwen Xia

Authors
  1. Ares J. Rosakis
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  2. Hiroo Kanamori
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  3. Kaiwen Xia
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Correspondence to Ares J. Rosakis.

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Rosakis, A.J., Kanamori, H. & Xia, K. Laboratory Earthquakes. Int J Fract 138, 211–218 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-006-0030-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-006-0030-6

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