Shear strain localization in elastodynamic rupture simulations

Abstract

We study strain localization as an enhanced velocity weakening mechanism on earthquake faults. Fault friction is modeled using Shear Transformation Zone (STZ) Theory, a microscopic physical model for non-affine rearrangements in granular fault gouge. STZ Theory is implemented in spring slider and dynamic rupture models of faults. We compare dynamic shear localization to deformation that is uniform throughout the gouge layer, and find that localized slip enhances the velocity weakening of the gouge. Localized elastodynamic ruptures have larger stress drops and higher peak slip rates than ruptures with homogeneous strain.

6 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Shear-transformation-zone theory of plastic deformation near the glass transition
• Strain localization in a shear transformation zone model for amorphous solids
• Evaluation of the "disorder temperature" and "free volume" formalisms via simulations of shear banding in amorphous solids
• Steady-state, effective-temperature dynamics in a glassy material

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Deformation and Failure of Amorphous Solidlike Materials
• Rate dependent shear bands in a shear transformation zone model of amorphous solids
• Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics of Amorphous Materials III: Shear-Transformation-Zone Plasticity
• Two-temperature continuum thermomechanics of deforming amorphous solids
• Shear band dynamics from a mesoscopic modeling of plasticity
• A two-scale model for sheared fault gouge: Competition between macroscopic disorder and local viscoplasticity
• A Model for Athermal Strain Localization in Dry Sheared Fault Gouge