Origin of Aseismic Slip on Oceanic Transform Faults

这项研究的目的是确定为什么一个显着的 大洋转换断层上的部分滑动是由地震引起的 而不是地震。 这项研究将测试 假设这种行为是由于蛇纹岩的存在 沿着转换断层 如果蛇形线的速度 硬化，然后蛇形将适应运动沿着 通过地震蠕变破坏断层。 一系列的实验将在 进行了摩擦本构行为， 以及一系列更具探索性的实验， 确定玄武岩和橄榄岩的本构行为。 然后 大洋转换断层的一个现实断层不稳定性模型 将被建造。 这些实验预计将 从而了解所观察到的地震组合 以及大洋转换断层上的滑动。

The objective of this study is to determine why a significant fraction of the slip on oceanic transform faults occurs by aseismic creep rather than by earthquakes. The study will test the hypothesis that this behavior is due to the existence of serpentine along the transform faults. If serpentine exhibits velocity hardening, then the serpentine will accommodate the movement along the faults through aseismic creep. A series of experiments will be conducted to determine the frictional constitutive behavior of serpentine, as well as a more exploratory series of experiments to determine the constitutive behavior of basalt and peridotite. Then a realistic fault instability model for oceanic transform faults will be constructed. Together these experiments are expected to result in an understanding of the observed combination of seismic and aseismic slip on oceanic transform faults.