Nucleation of Laboratory Earthquakes in Thin Samples
Recent findings from a research collaboration, published in Nature, provide a comprehensive explanation of the nucleation process of frictional ruptures. The study shows the crucial role that the sample thickness plays and its implications for failure predictions based on fracture mechanics theory.
Earthquakes begin with the nucleation of frictional ruptures, but the precise mechanisms driving this process have long remained elusive. In a new study published in Nature, findings from a research collaboration with partners from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and ENS Lyon reveal how slow, aseismic creeping ruptures evolve into the rapid fractures responsible for seismic events. Through a combination of experiments and theoretical modeling, the study demonstrates that as creeping patches grow to match the interface width, a topological transition occurs, seamlessly bridging slow and rapid rupture dynamics.
This work extends classical fracture mechanics to incorporate finite interface widths, providing a comprehensive description of rupture nucleation. The findings reveal that slow, steady creep begins at a well-defined stress threshold. This novel framework challenges existing assumptions about the onset of seismic ruptures and holds significant implications for understanding both material strength and earthquake mechanics.
Check out the paper here: external page How frictional ruptures and earthquakes nucleate and evolve