Fault Segmentation Pattern Controlled by Thickness of Brittle Crust - Université Clermont Auvergne Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Geophysical Research Letters Année : 2021

Fault Segmentation Pattern Controlled by Thickness of Brittle Crust

L. Jiao
Yann Klinger
Luc Scholtes

Résumé

During large earthquakes, seismic sources tend to split in several sub-events that rupture neighboring fault patches called fault segments. The scaling of such segmentation plays a decisive role in earthquake rupture dynamics, especially for strike-slip events. Using numerical modeling we demonstrate that when a pristine layer of brittle material is sheared, the first oblique Riedel fractures nucleate with a regular spacing that is controlled by the thickness of that layer. During later localization of the deformation, those initial fractures control the spatial structuration of the entire fault system. Analyzing the horizontal stress distribution in fault-parallel direction for different ratios between inter-Riedel distance and material thickness, we identify a threshold at 1.5, beyond which the stress switches from compressional to tensional and leads to the nucleation of a new Riedel fracture. Thus, the inter-Riedel segment length appears to be controlled by the vertical distribution of stress along the fault.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
jiao_grl21(1).pdf (1.32 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)

Dates et versions

hal-03400411 , version 1 (25-10-2021)

Identifiants

Citer

L. Jiao, Yann Klinger, Luc Scholtes. Fault Segmentation Pattern Controlled by Thickness of Brittle Crust. Geophysical Research Letters, 2021, 48 (19), ⟨10.1029/2021GL093390⟩. ⟨hal-03400411⟩
61 Consultations
108 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More