Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
07:39
The Role of Fabric in Frictional Properties of Phyllosilicate-Rich Tectonic Faults
Published on: November 6, 2021
3.3K
Stick-slip from heterogeneous Coulomb friction.
Maryam Alghannam1, Jan M Nordbotten2, Ruben Juanes1
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Physical Review. E
|June 19, 2025
Summary
Irregular fault surfaces create position-dependent friction, explaining diverse seismic events like fault creep and earthquakes. This friction heterogeneity alone can model complex fault slip behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Earth Sciences
- Seismology
Background:
- Stick-slip fault behavior is traditionally explained by velocity-dependent and time-dependent friction.
- Existing models inadequately address position-dependent friction, crucial for complex natural fault zones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of position-dependent friction in fault slip dynamics.
- To demonstrate how surface irregularities lead to heterogeneous friction along faults.
Main Methods:
- Simulated dynamic interactions between irregular surfaces to model Coulomb friction heterogeneity.
- Employed a spring-slider model for dynamic simulations of fault slip.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that surface irregularities generate heterogeneous Coulomb friction.
- Showed that friction heterogeneity alone can reproduce various stick-slip phenomena.
Conclusions:
- Position-dependent friction is a key factor in understanding complex fault behaviors.
- Heterogeneous Coulomb friction can explain phenomena ranging from fault creep to different earthquake types and slow slip events.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Types of Friction Problems
646
Friction is an essential concept in physics, engineering, and everyday life. It is the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion between two surfaces in contact. One of the most common types of friction encountered in various applications is dry friction. Dry friction problems can be broadly categorized into three types, each with unique characteristics and challenges.
The first type of dry friction problem involves situations where there is no apparent impending motion....
The first type of dry friction problem involves situations where there is no apparent impending motion....
646
01:05Static and Kinetic Frictional Force
16.2K
One of the simpler characteristics of sliding friction is that it is parallel to the contact surfaces between systems, and is always in a direction that opposes the motion or attempted motion of the systems relative to each other. If two systems are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called kinetic friction. For example, kinetic friction slows a hockey puck sliding on ice.
However, if two systems are in contact and are stationary relative to one...
However, if two systems are in contact and are stationary relative to one...
16.2K
01:07Frictional Force
8.4K
When a body is in motion, it encounters resistance because the body interacts with its surroundings. This resistance is known as friction, a common yet complex force whose behavior is still not completely understood. Friction opposes relative motion between systems in contact, but also allows us to move. Friction arises in part due to the roughness of surfaces in contact. For one object to move along a surface, it must rise to where the peaks of the surface can skip along the bottom of the...
8.4K
01:18Static Friction
903
Static friction is a force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of motion between two surfaces in contact. It plays a crucial role in our daily lives, from walking on the ground to driving a car.
For example, consider a scenario where a truck is connected to a car by a rope, ready to tow it along a road. When no external force is applied by the truck, the car remains stationary and is said to be in static equilibrium. In this case, the forces acting on the car, such as gravity and the...
For example, consider a scenario where a truck is connected to a car by a rope, ready to tow it along a road. When no external force is applied by the truck, the car remains stationary and is said to be in static equilibrium. In this case, the forces acting on the car, such as gravity and the...
903
01:21Characteristics of Dry Friction
689
Dry friction occurs when two solid surfaces slide against each other without any lubrication or fluid present. It causes resistance when pushing objects along a surface, like a gardener pushing a wheelbarrow. The force applied to move the cart causes dry friction between the wheel and the ground.
Before the wheelbarrow starts moving, the static frictional force acts tangentially to the contact surface, opposing the force that is about to induce the motion. This frictional force prevents the...
Before the wheelbarrow starts moving, the static frictional force acts tangentially to the contact surface, opposing the force that is about to induce the motion. This frictional force prevents the...
689
01:30Dry Friction
474
Dry friction occurs between two solid surfaces in contact as they attempt to move relative to one another. In daily life, dry friction is encountered in various forms, such as when walking on the ground, sliding an object across a table, or rubbing hands together. Despite its ubiquity, the underlying mechanisms behind dry friction are not readily visible.
To illustrate this concept, imagine a wooden crate resting on a rough, non-uniform horizontal surface. When an external force is applied to...
To illustrate this concept, imagine a wooden crate resting on a rough, non-uniform horizontal surface. When an external force is applied to...
474