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Faulting in vertically inhomogeneous media and its geophysical implications
Author(s) -
Rybicki Kacper R.,
Yamashita Teruo
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1029/98gl02176
Subject(s) - geology , induced seismicity , seismology , rigidity (electromagnetism) , geophysics , slip (aerodynamics) , physics , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Faulting of strike‐slip type in vertically inhomogeneous media is analyzed using the classical fracture theory. The analysis makes it possible to get a better insight into various aspects of faulting and earthquakes in real media. The major conclusions are that both low rigidity media and those with regions in which a rapid transition from high to low pore pressure occurs may form barriers for a propagating rupture. The permanent deficit of the driving stress (small or negative stress drop) in sediments that represent the most distinguished class of such media may be one of the main reasons of the generally observed lack of seismicity and rupture suppression there.