The Mechanics of Fractal Fault Gouge

小行星9304388 PI将开发一个微观力学模型的颗粒层的摩擦，其中包括粉碎和速率和状态之间的颗粒摩擦。 该建模将通过使用修改后的最先进的土壤力学程序的数值模拟，以及最近对层厚度和粒度分布的影响的实验室研究，以及对法向应力影响的补充实验来指导。 这项工作的动机是地震学证据断层带宽度断层的稳定性，最近的进展，利用地震层析成像和捕获模式，调查断层带的内部结构，以及最近的证据缓慢的前兆地震成熟的转换断层在洋底，这意味着一个显着的缩放变化的摩擦参数之间的实验室和现场。 ***

9304388 Sammis The PI will develop a micromechanical model for the friction of granular layers which incorporates comminution and rate and state-friction between the particles. This modeling will be guided by numerical simulations using a modified state-of-the-art soil mechanics program, and by recent laboratory studies on the effects of layer thickness and particle size distribution, adding complimentary experiments on the effect of normal stress. This work is motivated by seismological evidence relating fault zone width to fault stability, by recent advances in using seismic tomography and trapped modes to investigate the internal structure of fault zones, and by recent evidence for slow precursors to earthquakes on mature transform faults on the ocean floor which imply a significant scaling change of friction parameters between the laboratory and the field. ***