Simulations of localization process leading to large earthquakes

Bruce Zhou, Jessica A. McBeck, Francois Renard, & Yehuda Ben-Zion

Published August 15, 2021, SCEC Contribution #11445, 2021 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #148

Recent work of Ben-Zion & Zaliapin (2019, 2020) show that large events (M>7) such as the Landers 1992, Hector Mine 1999, and Ridgecrest 2019 earthquakes in Southern California were preceded by localization processes of background seismicity around their eventual regions. To help refine target signals and understand the controlling factors of the localization process in brittle domains, we build discrete element models (DEM) with a rough fault embedded in a shear zone. We build models with varying fault and off-fault parameters including cohesion, Young’s modulus, and different confining stress to examine their influence on fracture network localization. We convert bond fractures into deviatoric seismic potency using the method of Ben-Zion & Lyakhovsky (2019). We then quantify localization using the cumulative potency and Gini coefficient of the generated potency magnitude catalog. The observed relationship between various fault zone and host rock parameters and the localization behavior of fractures may improve the ability to track the preparation processes that lead to large earthquakes.

Citation
Zhou, B., McBeck, J. A., Renard, F., & Ben-Zion, Y. (2021, 08). Simulations of localization process leading to large earthquakes. Poster Presentation at 2021 SCEC Annual Meeting.

Related Projects & Working Groups
Fault and Rupture Mechanics (FARM)