Séminaire ISTeP - Lucile Bruhat

(ENS Paris)

Why make it complex, when you can make it simple? How physics-based modeling highlights key features of earthquake processes

While substantial progress has been made in understanding how and where interseismic strain accumulates on faults, enabling the identification of fault segments that are more likely to host earthquakes, the mechanical behavior of some key features of the earthquake rupture remains unclear. For instance, difficulties arise when we aim at defining the deep locked-to-creeping transition, and at estimating slip deficit in such transitional regions. Since earthquakes result from the sudden release of elastic strain along a fault interface, reasonable estimates for slip deficit, and consequent strain accumulation, are critical for earthquake hazard assessment. In this work I will present various examples of how “simple” physics-based models can help us understanding key features of earthquake physics. For instance, I will show how crack models of the locked-to-creeping transitional region enabled us to evaluate the slip and stress behavior of the deep edge of the locked region in the northern Cascadia subduction zone.

05/04/2019,  Salle de conférence de l'UFR TEB (aile 46/56, 2ème étage) à 12h30