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Self-healing pulse-like shear ruptures in the laboratory
George Lykotrafitis1, Ares J Rosakis, Guruswami Ravichandran
1Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 23, 2006
Summary
Researchers visualized earthquake fault rupture modes, observing crack-like and self-healing slip pulses. They identified conditions influencing these dynamic shear rupture behaviors, advancing our understanding of seismic events.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Solid Mechanics
- Experimental Physics
Background:
- Earthquake faulting models predict two primary dynamic shear rupture modes: sliding cracks and self-healing slip pulses.
- Understanding the conditions that govern these rupture modes is crucial for seismic hazard assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally visualize and characterize crack-like, pulse-like, and mixed dynamic shear rupture modes.
- To identify the specific conditions under which different rupture modes develop on "incoherent" interfaces.
Main Methods:
- Utilized dynamic photoelasticity and laser interferometry for simultaneous measurements.
- Visualized rupture propagation along frictionally held "incoherent" interfaces between identical solids.
Main Results:
- Observed and distinguished between crack-like, pulse-like, and mixed rupture modes in experiments.
- Determined the rupture mode type, initiation point, sliding velocity history, and propagation speed.
Conclusions:
- Experimental evidence supports the existence of distinct crack-like and pulse-like dynamic shear rupture modes.
- The study provides a framework for understanding the transition between different rupture modes based on interface properties and conditions.
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