Fault mechanics
Fault mechanics is a field of study that investigates the behavior of
Behind every good earthquake is some weak rock. Whether the rock remains weak becomes an important point in determining the potential for bigger earthquakes.
On a small scale, fractured rock behaves essentially the same throughout the world, in that the
For earthquakes, it all starts with an embedded penny-shaped crack as first envisioned by Brune.[1] As illustrated, an earthquake zone may start as a single crack, growing to form many individual cracks and collections of cracks along a fault. The key to fault growth is the concept of a "following force", as conveniently provided for interplate earthquakes, by the motion of tectonic plates. Under a following force, the seismic displacements eventually form a topographic feature, such as a mountain range.
In fact, the
Thus the prerequisite for a continuing seismically active interior zone is the presence of water, the ability of the water to get down to the fault source (high
See also
- Active fault – Geological fault likely to be the source of an earthquake sometime in the future
- Orogeny – The formation of mountain ranges
- Aseismic creep
References
- ^ Brune J N. (1970). "Tectonic stress and the spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes. I. Geophys. Res. 75:4997-5009" (PDF). Garfield.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ "Arches National Park". Exploratorium.edu. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ "NIRE Annual Report 1998". www.nire.go.jp. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "The Charlevoix-Kamouraska Seismic Zone". March 8, 2005. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005.
External links
- James N. Brune, Tectonic stress and the spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes, J. Geophys. Res. 75:4997-5009, 1970., review written in 1987. retrieved August 1, 2005
- Arches National Park, retrieved August 1,2005
- Stress Corrosion Cracking of Rock in a Chemical Environment, retrieved December 9, 2005
- Maurice Lamontagne, last modified 2003-12-22, The Charlevoix-Kamouraska* Seismic Zone, Canada - Natural Resources, Retrieved August 1, 2005