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Quasi‐static earthquake mechanics
Author(s) -
Stuart William D.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg017i006p01115
Subject(s) - instability , geology , boundary value problem , mechanics , stress (linguistics) , continuum mechanics , constitutive equation , earthquake simulation , earthquake prediction , deformation (meteorology) , seismology , physics , structural engineering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , engineering , finite element method , linguistics , philosophy , oceanography
Viewed as a boundary value problem of continuum mechanics, the subject of earthquake mechanics reduces to the study of (1) constitutive properties (stress‐deformation laws) and geometry of fault zones and surroundings, and (2) remotely applied boundary conditions. In the purely quasi‐static formulations described here, a precise criterion for instability leading to dynamic rupture is also needed. The present consensus supports the concept of an earthquake cycle in which the somewhat arbitrarily chosen successive stages are (1) slow increase of stress due to remote loading, (2) the onset, propagation, and cessation of earthquake rupture, and (3) post‐seismic adjustment. Although no single rigorous model yet exists for the complete cycle because of simplifying constitutive assumptions, there are detailed models for each stage.