Geosc 508 Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting Spring Term, 2007

Course Project/Presentation

Project: In consultation with the instructor, identify a laboratory-based project that involves collecting a data set related to friction, fracture, or fault properties. The project can be laboratory based measurement of rock properties, involving analog or digital transducers, and/or a combination of lab measurements and analysis of field specimens (e.g., thin sections, fault zone fabric, gouge particle size distribution). Some literature review will be necessary to design and implement the project.

Requirements:

One page summary of the problem. Due the week of Feb 26th.

5-7 page paper (text and figures) to be handed out with your presentation in class.

Presentation: Lead a 30-40 minute presentation on your project.

Requirements:

A 3-4 page summary paper to accompany overheads and other class handouts.

Presentations will take place during class beginning the week of April 2nd

Topic Suggestions:

• Time dependence of peak (static) friction.
• Dependence of frictional healing on sliding velocity.

• Stick-slip frictional stability, effect of stiffness.
• Effect of fault gouge particle-size distribution on frictional healing.
• Inelastic yielding and precursory slip prior to stick-slip instabilities.
• Dependence of the critical slip distance for granular shear on bounding surface roughness.
• Time- versus slip-dependent state evolution: effect of apparatus stiffness on healing
• Time- versus slip-dependent state evolution: symmetry/asymmetry of velocity step tests (increases/decreases)
• Thin section preparation and microstructural analysis of laboratory fault zones.
• Brittle fracture: strain rate dependence of inelastic yield point and ultimate strength

• Laboratory friction results. Velocity dependence of rate/state friction. Consistency of existing results. Outstanding problems.