Intermittency of earthquake cycles in a model of a three-degree-of-freedom spring-block system
We herein report the results of some numerical simulations of complex earthquake cycles using a three-degree-of-freedom spring-block model with a rate- and state-dependent friction law. The model consists of three blocks on a conveyor belt that is moving at a steady rate. Observed complex slip behav...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| Online Access: | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/21/841/2014/npg-21-841-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | We herein report the results of some numerical simulations of complex
earthquake cycles using a three-degree-of-freedom spring-block model with a
rate- and state-dependent friction law. The model consists of three blocks
on a conveyor belt that is moving at a steady rate. Observed complex slip
behaviour in the simulations is classified into five slip patterns, and for
each of these the parameter dependence of the slip patterns is demonstrated
by means of phase diagrams. Aperiodic slip patterns occur for wider ranges
of the parameter space in the three-block system than in the two-block
system. Chaotic slip behaviour known here as "intermittency" is found in
the three-block system, in which two different slip patterns occur
alternately with variable durations. By calculating Lyapunov exponents, we
quantify the dependence of slip evolution on the initial conditions for each
slip pattern. For cases where intermittent slip patterns occur, the time
evolution of the Lyapunov exponent is correlated with changes in slip
behaviour. |
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| ISSN: | 1023-5809 1607-7946 |