Laboratory Experiments on Rock Friction Focused on Understanding Earthquake Mechanics

Terry E. Tullis和大卫L.研究人员提出了一个系统的研究，以了解岩石摩擦中的各种效应的基本过程。他们将进行实验，旨在了解什么过程是负责单摩擦接触，多个接触，接触之间的相互作用的时间依赖性在凿，特别是在滑动面内凿。目的是了解在地震周期的大部分时间里，观测者可能期望在断层上发现的摩擦行为。问题在于，众所周知的摩擦的经验速率和状态摩擦描述，如在实验室中确定的，目前不能有任何信心地扩展到地球上的断层，因为我们不了解行为背后的基本过程。要理解地震成核，一个基本的要求是理解时间的依赖性，它允许断层在动态事件之间加强，并导致它们随着滑动加速而减弱。研究人员将进行一系列微压痕和摩擦实验，旨在通过流体化学和温度的变化以及深入的微观结构研究来区分最可能的解释类别。

EAR-0003543 Terry E. Tullis and David L. Goldsby ABSTRACT The investigators propose a systematic study to understand the fundamental processes responsible for the various effects recognized in rock friction. They will conduct experiments aimed at understanding what processes are responsible for the time dependence of interaction between single frictional contacts, multiple contacts, and contacts in gouge, especially on slip surfaces within gouge. The purpose is to understand the frictional behavior observers might expect to find on faults during most parts of the earthquake cycle. The problem is that the well-known empirical rate and state friction description of friction, as determined in the laboratory, cannot presently be extended to faults in the Earth with any confidence, because we do not understand the fundamental processes underlying the behavior. To understand earthquake nucleation it is a fundamental requirement to understand the time dependence that allows faults to strengthen between dynamic events and causes them to weaken as slip accelerates. The investigators will conduct a series of microindentation and friction experiments designed to differentiate between the most likely classes of explanations by variation of fluid chemistry and temperature and through an intensive microstructural study.