Asymmetric Off-Fault Damage Generated by Bilateral Ruptures Along a Bimaterial Interface

Benchun Duan

Published 2008, SCEC Contribution #1197

We perform numerical simulations of spontaneous dynamic rupture governed by a slip-weakening law along a bimaterial interface (fault) with off-fault damage in the form of Coulomb plastic yielding. Off-fault plastic yielding stabilizes the wrinkle-like slip pulse in terms of a decreasing rate of slip velocity growth. With a variety of model parameters, ruptures on the fault are bilateral, while off-fault plastic strain distribution between the two rupture directions is highly asymmetric.

Citation
Duan, B. (2008). Asymmetric Off-Fault Damage Generated by Bilateral Ruptures Along a Bimaterial Interface. Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L14306. doi: 10.1029/2008GL034797.