Simulation of the Transition of Earthquake Rupture from Quasi-static Growth to Dynamic Propagation

Abstract

— We have simulated a rupture transition from quasi-static growth to dynamic propagation using the boundary integral equation method. In order to make a physically reasonable model of earthquake cycle, we have to evaluate the dynamic rupture propagation in the context of quasi-static simulation. We used a snapshot of the stress distribution just before the earthquake in the quasi-static simulation. The resultant stress will be fed back to the quasi-static simulation. Since the quasi-static simulation used the slip-and time-dependent constitutive relation, the friction law itself evolves with time. Thus, we used the slip-weakening constitutive relation for dynamic rupture propagation consistent with that used for the quasi-static simulation. We modeled a San Andreas type strike-slip fault, in which two different size asperities existed.