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A self‐organized model of earthquakes with constant stress drops and the b‐value of 1
Author(s) -
Kumagai Hiroyuki,
Fukao Yoshio,
Watanabe Seiichiro,
Baba Yuito
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl005383
Subject(s) - induced seismicity , constant (computer programming) , mechanics , stress (linguistics) , supercritical fluid , drop (telecommunication) , dynamic stress , materials science , geology , physics , classical mechanics , thermodynamics , seismology , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , acceleration , computer science , programming language
The magnitude‐frequency relation and the constant stress drop are fundamental features of earth‐quakes, to which a full physical explanation has yet to be given. We present a model that can reproduce the above two fundamental features simultaneously and spontaneously. The model is two‐dimensionally configured spring‐loaded blocks with a velocity‐weakening friction law. We change widely the dynamic friction parameter, which results in the frequency distributions showing the critical, subcritical and supercritical behaviors. Seismicity near the critical state is characterized by almost constant stress drops and the b‐value of 1, in which a self‐healing pulse maintains its frontal dynamic stress at a level near the static friction in an environmental stress heterogeneity that has evolved through the healing process itself.