Fault strength, earthquake nucleation, and rupture propagation in clay rich fault zones
12:00pm - 1:00pm /
Friday 30th September 2016
/ Venue: Jane Herdman Lecture Theatre Jane Herdman Building
Type: Seminar /
Category: Department
- 01517950184
- Jamie
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Many major fault zones consist of a fault core, where most of the slip is accommodated, that contains a high proportion of clay. Clay is known to have a low frictional strength in comparison to other fault rocks derived from common rock types. Moreover, clay-rich fault gouges have velocity-strengthening frictional characteristics that imply that earthquake nucleation is not possible and fault creep is the more likely mode of failure. However, recent earthquakes, experiments and modelling suggest that earthquake rupture propagation through clay-rich faults is possible and may in fact be enhanced by the presence of clay, leading to large slip displacements. Understanding earthquake nucleation and rupture propagation through clay-rich faults is therefore of key importance and this presentation will review the current state of knowledge in this area as well as highlighting new experimental data and approaches.