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Laboratory earthquakes decipher control and stability of rupture speeds

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Dong

    (Institute of Geosafety, School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences)

  • Kaiwen Xia

    (Institute of Geosafety, School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences
    University of Toronto
    Tianjin University)

  • Ying Xu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Derek Elsworth

    (G3 Center and EMS Energy Institute, Pennsylvania State University)

  • Jean-Paul Ampuero

    (Géoazur, Université Côte d’Azur, IRD, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur; 250 rue Albert Einstein)

Abstract

Earthquakes are destructive natural hazards with damage capacity dictated by rupture speeds. Traditional dynamic rupture models predict that earthquake ruptures gradually accelerate to the Rayleigh wave speed with some of them further jumping to stable supershear speeds above the Eshelby speed (~ $$\sqrt{2}$$ 2 times S wave speed). However, the 2018 Mw 7.5 Palu earthquake, among several others, significantly challenges such a viewpoint. Here we generate spontaneous shear ruptures on laboratory faults to confirm that ruptures can indeed attain steady subRayleigh or supershear propagation speeds immediately following nucleation. A self-similar analysis of dynamic rupture confirms our observation, leading to a simple model where the rupture speed is uniquely dependent on a driving load. Our results reproduce and explain a number of enigmatic field observations on earthquake speeds, including the existence of stable subEshelby supershear ruptures, early onset of supershear ruptures, and the correlation between the rupture speed and the driving load.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Dong & Kaiwen Xia & Ying Xu & Derek Elsworth & Jean-Paul Ampuero, 2023. "Laboratory earthquakes decipher control and stability of rupture speeds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38137-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38137-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shmuel M. Rubinstein & Gil Cohen & Jay Fineberg, 2004. "Detachment fronts and the onset of dynamic friction," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(7003), pages 1005-1009, August.
    2. J. R. Leeman & D. M. Saffer & M. M. Scuderi & C. Marone, 2016. "Laboratory observations of slow earthquakes and the spectrum of tectonic fault slip modes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, September.
    3. V. Rubino & A. J. Rosakis & N. Lapusta, 2017. "Understanding dynamic friction through spontaneously evolving laboratory earthquakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Huihui Weng & Jean-Paul Ampuero, 2022. "Integrated rupture mechanics for slow slip events and earthquakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Ilya Svetlizky & Jay Fineberg, 2014. "Classical shear cracks drive the onset of dry frictional motion," Nature, Nature, vol. 509(7499), pages 205-208, May.
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