Realistic spatial and temporal earthquake distributions in a modified Olami-Feder-Christiensen model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a modified Olami-Feder-Christiensen model incorporating structural relaxation, successfully reproducing realistic seismic features such as aftershock patterns, spatial clustering, and frictional behaviors observed in rocks.

Contribution

The study presents a novel modification to the Olami-Feder-Christiensen model that captures key seismic phenomena not previously modeled.

Findings

Aftershocks follow the Omori law

Seismic events cluster around slip surfaces

Frictional properties resemble those in rock experiments

Abstract

We propose and study a modified version of the Olami-Feder-Christiensen model of seismicity, that includes a mechanism of structural relaxation. We obtain realistic features of seismicity that are not obtained with the original version, mainly: aftershocks that obey the Omori law and cluster spatially around the slip surface of the main shock, and averaged frictional properties qualitatively similar to those observed in rock friction, in particular the velocity weakening effect.