Unjamming dynamics: the micromechanics of a seismic fault model

Massimo Pica Ciamarra1, Eugenio Lippiello, Cataldo Godano

  • 1CNR-SPIN, Department of Physical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy. picaciamarra@na.infn.it

Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
PubMed

Related Concept Videos

Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses01:20

Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses

As discussed in previous lessons, strain energy in a material is the energy stored when it is elastically deformed, a concept crucial in materials science and mechanical engineering. This energy results from the internal work done against the cohesive forces within the material. When a material undergoes shearing stress and corresponding shearing strain, the strain energy density, which is the energy stored per unit volume, is calculated. Within the elastic limit, where the stress is...
Damped Oscillations01:07

Damped Oscillations

In the real world, oscillations seldom follow true simple harmonic motion. A system that continues its motion indefinitely without losing its amplitude is termed undamped. However, friction of some sort usually dampens the motion, so it fades away or needs more force to continue. For example, a guitar string stops oscillating a few seconds after being plucked. Similarly, one must continually push a swing to keep a child swinging on a playground.
Although friction and other non-conservative...
Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model01:09

Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model

Various dissolution theories provide insight into the factors that influence the dissolution rate. Danckwerts' Model suggests that turbulence, rather than a stagnant layer, characterizes the dissolution medium at the solid-liquid interface. In this model, the agitated solvent contains macroscopic packets that move to the interface via eddy currents, facilitating the absorption and delivery of the drug to the bulk solution. The regular replenishment of solvent packets maintains the concentration...
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway01:21

Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway

Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
Two-Dimensional Force System01:20

Two-Dimensional Force System

A two-dimensional system in mechanical engineering involves the analysis of motion and forces in a plane. A two-dimensional force vector can be resolved into its components as:
Kinetic Friction01:26

Kinetic Friction

Consider a truck trying to pull a stationary car. As the truck exerts a force on the car, static friction is created at the point of contact between the two surfaces. This frictional force resists the car's movement and keeps it at rest. However, when the applied force by the truck surpasses the limiting static frictional force, an interesting phenomenon occurs. The frictional force at the interface reduces to a lower value, known as the kinetic frictional force. At this point, the car begins...