Seminars & Events

Computations In Science Seminar
"Faults and Earthquakes as Granular Phenomena: Controls on Stick-Slip Dynamics"

DATE: October 10, 2007
TIME: 12:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Karen Daniels
LOCATION: KPTC 206, University of Chicago

Description:
Granular and continuous materials fail in fundamentally different ways, yet inherently discontinuous natural fault materials have often been modeled as continuum processes. I will present the results of laboratory experiments which complement existing numerical simulations, rock mechanics experiments, seismological observations, and geologic studies to highlight the granular controls on fault behavior. We perform experiments in a quasi-two-dimensional shear zone containing several thousand 5 mm circular and elliptical photoelastic plastic disks, allowing us to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of both internal stress and strain. While the time, length, and strength scales are vastly different from the natural case, the frictional behavior is found to be in agreement. Therefore, the experiments allow us to isolate the effects of granular interactions and choice of boundary conditions on the fault behavior, through the observation of large populations of stick-slip and creep events.

More Information:
Discussion over bag lunch at 12:15 p.m.
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