SCEC Award Number 12186 View PDF
Proposal Category Individual Proposal (Integration and Theory)
Proposal Title Adaptive Mesh Refinement Simulations for Earthquake Scaling Laws
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
Eric Dunham Stanford University
Other Participants Ossian O’Reilly (graduate student, Stanford)
SCEC Priorities 6b, 3c, 3e SCEC Groups FARM, CS, GMP
Report Due Date 03/15/2013 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
 This is an ongoing project related to the development of adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) techniques for the simulation of earthquake rupture dynamics. The specic focus of the past year's work has been on using these techniques to understand the physical mechanisms giving rise to self-similar scaling of earthquakes and the earthquake energy balance. In particular, we have used the AMR framework to complete dynamic rupture simulations with plasticity using laboratory scale parameters. We have also begun to develop a computationally efficient technique for including thermal pressurization in the AMR code.
Intellectual Merit Understanding the relationship between small and large earthquakes is a fundamental problem in earthquake science. To address this we are developing a computational framework that can directly use laboratory-derived friction laws, with measured parameters, to model large-scale earthquakes. The work will introduce realistic physics into earthquake simulation, ultimately leading to improved understanding of rupture dynamics and generation of strong ground motion.
Broader Impacts The project supported a talented postdoctoral fellow, Jeremy Kozdon, who has since transitioned to an assistant professor position at the Naval Postgraduate School. The funding provided through SCEC permitted Jeremy to pursue several novel ideas with regard to computational modeling of earthquakes that hold tremendous promise.
Exemplary Figure Figure 1: Eective plastic strain for a Tetemoko simulation with 5 levels of
renement with a minimum grid spacing of h4 = 1:5 mm and maximum grid
spacing of h = 1:6 m. In terms of the characteristic spatial extent of state
evolution, R0, the minimum grid spacing is h4 = R0=200. Also shown are
contours of the cumulative slip distribution. The blue slip contours are from
the same simulation as the eective plastic strain plot and the red contours
are for an increased resolution simulation with h4 = 0:4 mm = R0=800.
Linked Publications

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