Dynamics of earthquake faults

J. M. Carlson, J. S. Langer, and B. E. Shaw
Rev. Mod. Phys. 66, 657 – Published 1 April 1994
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Abstract

The authors present an overview of ongoing studies of the rich dynamical behavior of the uniform, deterministic Burridge-Knopoff model of an earthquake fault, discussing the model's behavior in the context of current seismology. The topics considered include: (1) basic properties of the model, such as the distinction between small and large events and the magnitude vs frequency distribution; (2) dynamics of individual events, including dynamical selection of rupture propagation speeds; (3) generalizations of the model to more realistic, higher-dimensional models; and (4) studies of predictability, in which artificial catalogs generated by the model are used to test and determine the limitations of pattern recognition algorithms used in seismology.

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.66.657

    ©1994 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    J. M. Carlson

    • Department of Physics and Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106

    J. S. Langer

    • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106

    B. E. Shaw

    • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964

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    Issue

    Vol. 66, Iss. 2 — April - June 1994

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