Properties of seismicity and surface deformation generated by earthquakes on a heterogeneous strike slip fault in elastic half space (original) (raw)

We attempt to develop a physical basic for earthquake dynamics and seismic hazard on large strike-slip fault zones by joint analysis of model realizations, with parameters representing specific fault zones, and multi-disciplinary observations of deformation phenomena. The model consists of discrete slip patches (representing structural segmentation) on a vertical plane in a 3-D solid, and it accounts for brittle-slip, creep-slip, realistic boundary conditions and 3-D elastic stress transfer (Ben-Zion and Rice, 1993; Ben-Zion, 1996). Recent developments extended the framework to incorporate quasidynamic rupture propagation, gradual healing, and creeping barriers along the fault (Zöller et al., 2004, 2005). The model produces for ranges of input parameters several realistic features of seismicity including frequency-size and temporal statistics, hypocenter distributions, realistic foreshock-mainshock-aftershock sequences, approach to and retreat from criticality, and accelerating seis...