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Centrifuge modeling of earthquakes
Author(s) -
Liu HsiPing,
Hagman Ronald L.,
Scott Ronald F.
Publication year - 1978
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/gl005i005p00333
Subject(s) - centrifuge , geology , fault (geology) , seismology , brittleness , tectonics , thrust , scale model , thrust fault , engineering , materials science , physics , nuclear physics , aerospace engineering , composite material
The major problem in scale modeling of crustal tectonic processes, namely, the requirement for a brittle modeling material of extremely low strength (∼0.1 bar) can be overcome by doing model tests under artificial gravity in a centrifuge. When conditions of dynamic similarity are observed, scale modeling, because of its controlled nature, can be an important tool supplementing field investigation, theoretical study, and numerical simulation of crustal tectonic processes. Fracture events by simulated tectonic stress loading in a model thrust fault (model dimensions: 20 cm depth × 25 cm × 27 cm) have been generated when the model is subject to 50 g in a centrifuge of 1.53 m radius. Measurements obtained are: the total loading force, the stress change at one location inside the fault zone, and model seismic signals recorded on the model top surface. With use of a scaled brittle model material, the model scales up to a prototype approximately 2.2 km depth × 2.8 km × 3.0 km in dimensions.