ISSN:
1420-9136
Keywords:
Fractals
;
fault-gouge
;
friction
;
faulting
;
stick-slip
;
velocity-weakening
;
self-similarity
;
fractal dimension
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The particle-size distribution of a natural fault-gouge has been determined over the range from 5 μm to 40 cm. The gouge is self-similar over the range from 5 μm to 1 cm having a fractal dimension of 2.60±0.11. The lower and upper fractal limits were also determined. The lower fractal limit occurs at a dimension of about 1–10 μm where mineral cleavage and intergranular porosity dominate the cataclasis. The upper fractal limit occurs at particle sizes on the order of 1 cm where the scaled particle density decreases abruptly by a factor of about three. By analogy to soil-mechanics shear box tests and laboratory rock friction experiments, it is argued that the upper fractal limit of the gouge determines the characteristic displacement parameter in stick-slip friction models. A characteristic displacement on the order of 1 cm is consistent with estimates based on numerical simulations of faulting.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00874490
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