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Dynamic rupture along bimaterial interfaces in 3D
Author(s) -
Brietzke G. B.,
Cochard A.,
Igel H.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2007gl029908
Subject(s) - geology , geophysics , materials science , seismology
We perform numerical simulations of dynamic rupture propagation on a plane in a model consisting of two different elastic half spaces connected via a planar frictional interface governed by regularized Coulomb friction. Therefore, ruptures in this study are purely driven by the presence of a material contrast. Ruptures are nucleated on the fault using a circular symmetric expanding increase of pore‐pressure in a limited source region. We show how a wrinkle‐like rupture pulse can mature also in the 3D case where we have a mixing of in‐plane and anti‐plane modes, the instability specific of a bimaterial interface acting only for the in‐plane mode. The pulse develops inside a cone‐shaped region with its axis aligned with the direction of displacement in the softer material, its tip being at the nucleation region.