Fault friction under thermal pressurization during large coseismic-slip Part II: Expansion to the model of frictional slip

TL;DR

This paper extends a fault friction model to include traveling strain localization, revealing complex behaviors like partial strength recovery and oscillations, which challenge traditional views of thermal pressurization as a weakening mechanism.

Contribution

It introduces a new model incorporating traveling strain localization and boundary conditions, providing deeper insights into fault slip behavior during large seismic events.

Findings

Traveling strain localization prevents steady state strength recovery.

Boundary conditions influence whether the fault reaches a steady state.

Frictional oscillations can increase earthquake frequency content.

Abstract

In Stathas and Stefanou (2022) we presented the frictional response of a bounded fault gouge under largecoseismic slip. We did so by taking into account the evolution of the Principal Slip Zone (PSZ) thickness using a Cosserat micromorphic continuum model for the description of the fault's mechanical response. The numerical results obtained differ significantly from those predicted by the established model of thermal pressurization during slip on a mathematical plane (see Mase and Smith (1987); Rice (2006a); Platt et al. (2014a) among others). These differences prompt us to reconsider the basic assumptions of a stationary strain localization on an unbounded domain present in the original model. We depart from these assumptions, extending the model to incorporate different strain localization modes, temperature and pore fluid pressure boundary conditions. The new model allows us to gain significant understanding of the detailed numerical results of Part I. We investigate the influence of a traveling strain localization inside the fault gouge considering isothermal, drained boundary conditions for the bounded and unbounded domain respectively. Our results establish that when a stationary strain localization profile is applied on a bounded domain, the boundary conditions lead to a steady state, where total strength regain is achieved. In the case of a traveling instability such a steady state is not possible and the fault only regains part of its frictional strength, depending on the seismic slip velocity and the traveling velocity of the shear band. In this case frictional oscillations increasing the frequency content of the earthquake are also developed. Our results indicate a reappraisal of the role of thermal pressurization as a frictional weakening mechanism.