Volume 30 Issue 6
Dec.  2024
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
LI Y B,HUANG L Y,YAO R,et al.,2024. Spatiotemporal evolution of interseismic coupling and stress accumulation near an asperity on a vertical strike-slip fault: Insights from three-dimensional viscoelastic numerical simulation[J]. Journal of Geomechanics,30(6):878−892 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2023134
Citation: LI Y B,HUANG L Y,YAO R,et al.,2024. Spatiotemporal evolution of interseismic coupling and stress accumulation near an asperity on a vertical strike-slip fault: Insights from three-dimensional viscoelastic numerical simulation[J]. Journal of Geomechanics,30(6):878−892 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2023134

Spatiotemporal evolution of interseismic coupling and stress accumulation near an asperity on a vertical strike-slip fault: Insights from three-dimensional viscoelastic numerical simulation

doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2023134
Funds:  This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 42074111, 42174120, 41941017 and U1939205) and Special Fund of the Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (Grant No. DQJB22K43).
More Information
  • Received: 2023-08-16
  • Revised: 2024-01-21
  • Accepted: 2024-05-07
  • Available Online: 2024-11-20
  • Published: 2024-12-27
  •   Objective  Understanding the kinematic state and stress accumulation near fault protuberances is crucial for accurate assessment of earthquake hazards. Interseismic coupling (ISC) is a widely used method for characterizing the kinematic behavior of faults. Despite its importance, the correlation between the spatial distribution of ISC and the positioning of fault asperities, areas of increased frictional resistance, has not been extensively studied. Furthermore, the influence of the rheological properties of Earth materials on the temporal and spatial evolutions of slip deficits and shear stress accumulation in close proximity to these asperities remains poorly understood.   Methods  We developed a set of three-dimensional (3D) elastic and viscoelastic finite element models to investigate the effects of fault asperities on interseismic deformation and stress accumulation. These models incorporate vertical strike-slip faults and use sophisticated contact algorithms to simulate the mechanical locking associated with asperities. Our innovative approach, referred to as the “binary fault-locking approach”, simplifies fault behavior into a binary system, categorizing states as either “locked” or “unlocked”. The present study analyzes the spatial and temporal variations in the ISC and shear stress accumulation rates around a single asperity, providing novel insights into the mechanics of fault systems. In addition, we validate the efficacy of the “binary fault-locking approach” by applying it to the Xianshuihe fault, thereby reinforcing the relevance of our findings to real-world fault behavior. Through this study, we aim to enhance our understanding of fault mechanics and improve earthquake hazard assessments, which ultimately contributes to more effective risk-mitigation strategies.   Results  Because of the mechanical locking of the asperity, a fault-sliding surface within a certain distance from the asperity cannot slide freely, resulting in a slip deficit in an area centered around the asperity. Consequently, the degree of fault-locking displays a ring-shaped attenuation pattern centered on this asperity. Under purely elastic conditions, the ISC and shear stress accumulation rates near the vicinity of the asperity remained constant over time. Conversely, under viscoelastic conditions, the contours of the ISC and shear stress accumulation in the areas surrounding the asperity expanded with time under loading, and the effects of temporal changes in the locking degree became more pronounced. In scenarios where the viscosity differs on either side of the fault, the interseismic deformation and stress accumulation rate of the fault are primarily controlled by the rheological properties of the material on the side with a lower relaxation time, owing to the different relaxation times on either side of the fault.   Conclusion  (1) Because of the continuity of the medium, although the region adjacent to an asperity is not fully locked, its slip velocity is still lower than the movement velocity of block, resulting in a spatial pattern of decreasing ISC outward from the fault asperity. (2) Viscoelastic effects regulated the deformation near a fault asperity, leading to an increase in the spatial extent of the ISC over time. (3) The ISC can serve as an approximate indicator of the shear stress accumulation rate. Irrespective of viscoelastic effects, a value of approximately 0.5 can be used as the threshold for moderate to strong locking, and shear stress accumulation is insignificant below this value. (4) Considering the spatially nonuniform fault coupling along the Luhuo-Kangding segment of the Xianshuihe fault, the simulated surface velocities closely matched the GPS observations, thus confirming the reliability of the method.   Significance  This study establishes an important connection between ISC and shear stress accumulation rate, providing valuable insights for identifying potential seismic hazards. Overall, this study emphasizes the intricate interactions between fault dynamics and geological structures, and highlights the significance of detailed modeling for understanding earthquake mechanisms. By addressing the gaps in knowledge regarding the influence of protuberances on fault behavior, this research contributes valuable information to the field of seismic hazard estimation, thereby enhancing our ability to effectively mitigate earthquake risks.

     

  • Full-text Translaiton by iFLYTEK

    The full translation of the current issue may be delayed. If you encounter a 404 page, please try again later.
  • loading
  • [1]
    ALMEIDA R, LINDSEY E O, BRADLEY K, et al., 2018. Can the updip limit of frictional locking on megathrusts be detected geodetically? Quantifying the effect of stress shadows on near-trench coupling[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(10): 4754-4763. doi: 10.1029/2018GL077785
    [2]
    BAI Y J, NI H Y, GE H, 2019. Advances in research on the geohazard effect of active faults on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau[J]. Journal of Geomechanics, 25(6): 1116-1128. (in Chinese with English abstract
    [3]
    BRACE W F, BYERLEE J D, 1966. Stick-slip as a mechanism for earthquakes[J]. Science, 153(3739): 990-992. doi: 10.1126/science.153.3739.990
    [4]
    BYRNE D E, DAVIS D M, SYKES L R, 1988. Loci and maximum size of thrust earthquakes and the mechanics of the shallow region of subduction zones[J]. Tectonics, 7(4): 833-857. doi: 10.1029/TC007i004p00833
    [5]
    CAMERON W E, NISBET E G, DIETRICH V J, 1979. Boninites, komatiites and ophiolitic basalts[J]. Nature, 280(5723): 550-553. doi: 10.1038/280550a0
    [6]
    CARTER N L, FRIEDMAN M, LOGAN J M, et al. , 1981. Mechanical behavior of crustal rocks: the handin volume[M]. Washington DC: American Geophysical Union.
    [7]
    CHLIEH M, AVOUAC J P, SIEH K, et al., 2008. Heterogeneous coupling of the Sumatran megathrust constrained by geodetic and paleogeodetic measurements[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 113(B5): B05305.
    [8]
    DENG J S, KENNETH H, MICHAEL G, et al., 1999. Stress loading from viscous flow in the lower crust and triggering of aftershocks following the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 26(21): 3209-3212. doi: 10.1029/1999GL010496
    [9]
    DIETERICH J H, 1979. Modeling of rock friction: 1. Experimental results and constitutive equations[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 84(B5): 2161. doi: 10.1029/JB084iB05p02161
    [10]
    DUNHAM E M, BELANGER D, CONG L, et al., 2011. Earthquake ruptures with strongly rate-weakening friction and off-fault plasticity, Part 2: nonplanar faults[J]. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 101(5): 2308-2322. doi: 10.1785/0120100076
    [11]
    FENG C J, QI B S, ZHANG P, et al., 2018. Crustal stress field and its tectonic significance near the Longmenshan Fault Belt, after the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake[J]. Journal of Geomechanics, 24(4): 439-451. (in Chinese with English abstract
    [12]
    FREED A M, LIN J, 1998. Time-dependent changes in failure stress following thrust earthquakes[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 103(B10): 24393-24409. doi: 10.1029/98JB01764
    [13]
    GE W P, SHEN Z K, MOLNAR P, et al., 2022. GPS determined asymmetric deformation across central Altyn Tagh fault reveals rheological structure of Northern Tibet[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(9): e2022JB024216. doi: 10.1029/2022JB024216
    [14]
    HERMAN M W, GOVERS R, 2020. Locating fully locked asperities along the South America subduction megathrust: a new physical interseismic inversion approach in a Bayesian framework[J]. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21(8): e2020GC009063. doi: 10.1029/2020GC009063
    [15]
    HOULIÉ N, ROMANOWICZ B, 2011. Asymmetric deformation across the San Francisco Bay Area faults from GPS observations in Northern California[J]. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 184(3-4): 143-153. doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2010.11.003
    [16]
    HUANG L Y, ZHANG B, SHI Y L, 2020. Def3D, a FEM simulation tool for computing deformation near active faults and volcanic centers[J]. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 309: 106601. doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2020.106601
    [17]
    HUANG L Y, ZHANG B, SHI Y L, 2021. Stress transfer at the northeastern end of the Bayan Har Block and its implications for seismic hazards: Insights from numerical simulations[J]. Earth and Space Science, 8(12): e2021EA001947. doi: 10.1029/2021EA001947
    [18]
    JIANG G Y, XU X W, CHEN G H, et al., 2015. Geodetic imaging of potential seismogenic asperities on the Xianshuihe-Anninghe-Zemuhe fault system, southwest China, with a new 3-D viscoelastic interseismic coupling model[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 120(3): 1855-1873. doi: 10.1002/2014JB011492
    [19]
    KANEKO Y, AVOUAC J P, LAPUSTA N, 2010. Towards inferring earthquake patterns from geodetic observations of interseismic coupling[J]. Nature Geoscience, 3(5): 363-369. doi: 10.1038/ngeo843
    [20]
    KONG W L, HUANG L Y, YAO R, et al., 2022. Contemporary kinematics along the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system: insights from numerical simulation[J]. Tectonophysics, 839: 229545. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2022.229545
    [21]
    LACHENBRUCH A H, 1980. Frictional heating, fluid pressure, and the resistance to fault motion[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 85(B11): 6097-6112. doi: 10.1029/JB085iB11p06097
    [22]
    LI S Y, MORENO M, BEDFORD J, et al., 2015. Revisiting viscoelastic effects on interseismic deformation and locking degree: a case study of the Peru‐North Chile subduction zone[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 120(6): 4522-4538. doi: 10.1002/2015JB011903
    [23]
    LI S Y, WANG K L, WANG Y Z, et al., 2018a. Geodetically inferred locking state of the cascadia megathrust based on a viscoelastic earth model[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(9): 8056-8072. doi: 10.1029/2018JB015620
    [24]
    LI Y C, ZHANG G H, SHAN X J, et al., 2018b. GPS-derived fault coupling of the Longmenshan fault associated with the 2008 mw Wenchuan 7.9 earthquake and its tectonic implications[J]. Remote Sensing, 10(5): 753. doi: 10.3390/rs10050753
    [25]
    LI Y C, SHAN X J, GAO Z Y, et al., 2023. Interseismic coupling, asperity distribution, and earthquake potential on major faults in Southeastern Tibet[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(8): e2022GL101209. doi: 10.1029/2022GL101209
    [26]
    LINDSEY E O, MALLICK R, HUBBARD J A, et al., 2021. Slip rate deficit and earthquake potential on shallow megathrusts[J]. Nature Geoscience, 14(5): 321-326. doi: 10.1038/s41561-021-00736-x
    [27]
    LOVELESS J P, MEADE B J, 2011. Spatial correlation of interseismic coupling and coseismic rupture extent of the 2011 MW = 9.0 Tohoku‐oki earthquake[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 38(17): L17306.
    [28]
    LUO G, LIU M, 2018. Stressing rates and seismicity on the major faults in eastern Tibetan Plateau[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(12): 10968-10986.
    [29]
    LYONS S N, BOCK Y, SANDWELL D T, 2002. Creep along the Imperial Fault, southern California, from GPS measurements[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 107(B10): 2249.
    [30]
    MALSERVISI R, FURLONG K P, DIXON T H, 2001. Influence of the earthquake cycle and lithospheric rheology on the dynamics of the Eastern California Shear Zone[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 28(14): 2731-2734. doi: 10.1029/2001GL013311
    [31]
    MELNICK D, MORENO M, QUINTEROS J, et al., 2017. The super‐interseismic phase of the megathrust earthquake cycle in Chile[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(2): 784-791. doi: 10.1002/2016GL071845
    [32]
    MORENO M, MELNICK D, ROSENAU M, et al., 2012. Toward understanding tectonic control on the M w 8.8 2010 Maule Chile earthquake[J]. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 321-322: 152-165. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2012.01.006
    [33]
    MURAMOTO T, ITO Y, MIYAKAWA A, et al., 2023. Strain and stress accumulation in viscoelastic splay fault and subducting oceanic crust[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(11): e2023GL103496. doi: 10.1029/2023GL103496
    [34]
    OLESKEVICH D A, HYNDMAN R D, WANG K, 1999. The updip and downdip limits to great subduction earthquakes: thermal and structural models of Cascadia, south Alaska, SW Japan, and Chile[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 104(B7): 14965-14991. doi: 10.1029/1999JB900060
    [35]
    QIAO X, ZHOU Y, 2021. Geodetic imaging of shallow creep along the Xianshuihe fault and its frictional properties[J]. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 567: 117001. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117001
    [36]
    RIPPERGER J, AMPUERO J P, MAI P M, et al., 2007. Earthquake source characteristics from dynamic rupture with constrained stochastic fault stress[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 112(B4): B04311.
    [37]
    RUINA A, 1983. Slip instability and state variable friction laws[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 88(B12): 10359-10370. doi: 10.1029/JB088iB12p10359
    [38]
    SAVAGE P E, GOPALAN S, MIZAN T I, et al., 1995. Reactions at supercritical conditions: applications and fundamentals[J]. AIChE Journal, 41(7): 1723-1778. doi: 10.1002/aic.690410712
    [39]
    SHI Y L, CAO J L, 2008. Effective viscosity of China continental lithosphere[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 15(3): 82-95. (in Chinese with English abstract doi: 10.1016/S1872-5791(08)60064-0
    [40]
    SONE H, UCHIDE T, 2016. Spatiotemporal evolution of a fault shear stress patch due to viscoelastic interseismic fault zone rheology[J]. Tectonophysics, 684: 63-75. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2016.04.017
    [41]
    TAKEUCHI M, SATO T, SHINBO T, 2008. Stress due to the interseismic back slip and its relation with the focal mechanisms of earthquakes occurring in the Kuril and northeastern Japan arcs[J]. Earth, Planets and Space, 60(6): 549-557. doi: 10.1186/BF03353117
    [42]
    THATCHER W, RUNDLE J B, 1984. A viscoelastic coupling model for the cyclic deformation due to periodically repeated Earthquakes at subduction zones[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 89(B9): 7631-7640. doi: 10.1029/JB089iB09p07631
    [43]
    VROLIJK P, 1990. On the mechanical role of smectite in subduction zones[J]. Geology, 18(8): 703. doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<0703:OTMROS>2.3.CO;2
    [44]
    WANG K L, HU Y, HE J H, 2012. Deformation cycles of subduction earthquakes in a viscoelastic Earth[J]. Nature, 484(7394): 327-332. doi: 10.1038/nature11032
    [45]
    WANG, M, SHEN Z K, 2020. Present‐day crustal deformation of continental China derived from GPS and its tectonic implications[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125(2): e2019JB018774. doi: 10.1029/2019JB018774
    [46]
    WANG R J, LORENZO-MARTÍN F, ROTH F, 2006. PSGRN/PSCMP—a new code for calculating co- and post-seismic deformation, geoid and gravity changes based on the viscoelastic-gravitational dislocation theory[J]. Computers & Geosciences, 32(4): 527-541.
    [47]
    WEN X Z, MA S L, XU X W, et al., 2008. Historical pattern and behavior of earthquake ruptures along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted-block, southwestern China[J]. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 168(1-2): 16-36. doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2008.04.013
    [48]
    YAGI Y, KIKUCHI M, 2003. Partitioning between seismogenic and aseismic slip as highlighted from slow slip events in Hyuga-nada, Japan[J]. Geophysical Research Letters, 30(2): 1087.
    [49]
    YAO S L, YANG H F, 2022. Hypocentral dependent shallow slip distribution and rupture extents along a strike-slip fault[J]. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 578: 117296. doi: 10.1016/j.jpgl.2021.117296
    [50]
    ZHAO J, JIANG Z S, WU Y Q, et al., 2012. Study on fault locking and fault slip deficit of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan earthquake[J]. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 55(9): 2963-2972. (in Chinese with English abstract
    [51]
    ZHU S B, ZHANG P Z, 2013. FEM simulation of interseismic and coseismic deformation associated with the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake[J]. Tectonophysics, 584: 64-80. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.06.024
    [52]
    ZHU Y J, WANG K L, HE J H, 2020. Effects of earthquake recurrence on localization of interseismic deformation around locked strike‐slip faults[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125(8): e2020JB019817. doi: 10.1029/2020JB019817
    [53]
    白永健,倪化勇,葛华,2019. 青藏高原东南缘活动断裂地质灾害效应研究现状[J]. 地质力学学报,25(6):1116-1128. doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2019.25.06.095
    [54]
    丰成君,戚帮申,张鹏,等,2018. 汶川Ms8.0地震后龙门山断裂带地壳应力场及其构造意义[J]. 地质力学学报,24(4):439-451. doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2018.24.04.046
    [55]
    石耀霖,曹建玲,2008. 中国大陆岩石圈等效粘滞系数的计算和讨论[J]. 地学前缘,15(3):82-95. doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1005-2321.2008.03.006
    [56]
    赵静,江在森,武艳强,等,2012. 汶川地震前龙门山断裂带闭锁程度和滑动亏损分布研究[J]. 地球物理学报,55(9):2963-2972. doi: 10.6038/j.issn.0001-5733.2012.09.015
  • 加载中

Catalog

    Figures(9)  / Tables(3)

    Article Metrics

    Article views (214) PDF downloads(50) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return