Laboratory Experiments on Rock Friction Focused on Understanding Earthquake Mechanics

9814660 Tullis这项研究的重点是了解造成地震的基本过程。 地壳地震是由于断层的快速滑动而发生的。 滑动突然发生，因为一旦滑动开始加速，岩石就更容易滑动，但不知道为什么更快的滑动会使岩石变弱。 因此，研究人员试图了解为什么滑动发生得更快时更容易滑动，以及为什么断层在地震之间安静地存在时会变得更强。 实验室的实验是为了检验一些已经提出的基本解释。 如果我们能够理解这些过程，对地震过程的进一步了解可能会揭示预测地震的方法，并了解造成破坏性强地面运动的因素。

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.