Laboratory Experiments on Rock Friction Focused on Understanding Earthquake Mechanics

9814660 Tull这项研究的重点是了解导致地震的基本过程。地壳地震是由于断层上的快速滑动造成的。滑动发生得很突然，因为一旦滑动速度开始加快，岩石就会更容易滑动，但尚不清楚为什么更快的滑动会使岩石变得更弱。因此，研究人员试图理解为什么滑动发生得更快更容易，以及为什么断层在地震之间安静地坐着时变得更坚固。实验室实验的目的是检验已经提供的一些基本解释。如果我们能够理解这些过程，对地震过程的更多了解可能会为预测地震和了解造成破坏性强地面运动的因素提供方法。

9814660 TullisThis research focuses on understanding fundamental processes responsible for causing earthquakes. Crustal earthquakes occur due to rapid sliding on faults. The sliding occurs suddenly because the rocks can slide more easily once sliding begins to speed up, but it is not known why faster sliding makes rocks weaker. Thus, the investigators are trying to understand why sliding is easier when it occurs faster, and why faults grow stronger as they sit quietly between earthquakes. The laboratory experiments are designed to test some of the fundamental explanations that have been offered. If we can understand the processes, the increased understanding of the earthquake process might show ways to predict earthquakes and to understand the factors responsible for their damaging strong ground motions.