Simulation study of the inhomogeneous Olami-Feder-Christensen model of earthquakes

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to explore how spatial inhomogeneity affects the statistical properties of the Olami-Feder-Christensen earthquake model, revealing that some critical features weaken while characteristic features persist.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamical inhomogeneity into the OFC model and analyzes its impact on earthquake statistical laws through simulation.

Findings

Gutenberg-Richter law is often weakened in inhomogeneous models.

Omori law features are suppressed by inhomogeneity.

Characteristic features like periodic recurrence persist despite inhomogeneity.

Abstract

Statistical properties of the inhomogeneous version of the Olami-Feder-Christensen (OFC) model of earthquakes is investigated by numerical simulations. The spatial inhomogeneity is assumed to be dynamical. Critical features found in the original homogeneous OFC model, e.g., the Gutenberg-Richter law and the Omori law are often weakened or suppressed in the presence of inhomogeneity, whereas the characteristic features found in the original homogeneous OFC model, e.g., the near-periodic recurrence of large events and the asperity-like phenomena persist.