Fault Weakening During Short Seismic Slip Pulse Experiments: The Role of Pressurized Water and Implications for Induced Earthquakes in the Groningen Gas Field

High-velocity friction experiments on simulated fault gouges sheared at high normal stress and to low displacement are particularly relevant to induced seismicity, which is becoming an important topic in fault mechanics. Using a new, improved set-up, which allows simulation of fault stress and fluid pressure ((Formula presented.)) conditions...

Effects of heterogeneous gouge segments on the slip behavior of experimental faults at dm scale

Frictional heterogeneity within fault zones is one of the factors proposed to explain the spectrum of slow, intermediate, and fast slip behaviors exhibited by faults in nature. Numerical modeling shows how even a simplified model setup incorporating sliding on a velocity-weakening (VW) patch surrounded by velocity-strengthening (VS) material can...

Seismic slip-pulse experiments simulate induced earthquake rupture in the Groningen Gas field

Nucleation of Stick-Slip Instability Within a Large-Scale Experimental Fault Effects of Stress Heterogeneities Due to Loading and Gouge Layer Compaction

Geodetic observations and large‐scale laboratory experiments show that seismic instability is preceded by slow slip within a finite nucleation zone. In laboratory experiments rupture nucleation is studied mostly using bare (rock) interfaces, whereas upper crustal faults are typically filled with gouge. To investigate effects of gouge on rupture...

Friction properties and deformation mechanisms of halite(-mica) gouges from low to high sliding velocities

The evolution of friction as a function of slip rate is important in understanding earthquake nucleation and propagation. Many laboratory experiments investigating friction of fault rocks are either conducted in the low velocity regime (10−8–10−4 ms−1) or in the high velocity regime (0.01–1 m s−1). Here, we report on the evolution of friction...

Vaporization of fault water during seismic slip

Laboratory and numerical studies, as well as field observations, indicate that phase transitions of pore water might be an important process in large earthquakes. We present a model of the thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical processes, including a two-phase mixture model to incorporate the phase transitions of pore water, occurring during fast slip (i...

Compaction creep of quartz sand at 400-600°C: Experimental evidence for dissolution-controlled pressure solution

Intergranular pressure solution (IPS) is an important compaction and deformation mechanism in quartzose rocks, but the kinetics and rate-controlling process remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to test microphysical models for compaction creep by IPS against isostatic hot pressing experiments performed on quartz sand under conditions...