scholarly journals Fault valving and pore pressure evolution in simulations of earthquake sequences and aseismic slip

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqiang Zhu ◽  
Kali L. Allison ◽  
Eric M. Dunham ◽  
Yuyun Yang
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Permeability Evolution ◽  
Aseismic Slip ◽  
Effective Normal Stress ◽  
Pressure Stress ◽  
Cyclic Changes ◽  
Earthquake Sequences ◽  
Pressure Evolution

Abstract Fault-zone fluids control effective normal stress and fault strength. While most earthquake models assume a fixed pore fluid pressure distribution, geologists have documented fault valving behavior, that is, cyclic changes in pressure and unsteady fluid migration along faults. Here we quantify fault valving through 2-D antiplane shear simulations of earthquake sequences on a strike-slip fault with rate-and-state friction, upward Darcy flow along a permeable fault zone, and permeability evolution. Fluid overpressure develops during the interseismic period, when healing/sealing reduces fault permeability, and is released after earthquakes enhance permeability. Coupling between fluid flow, permeability and pressure evolution, and slip produces fluid-driven aseismic slip near the base of the seismogenic zone and earthquake swarms within the seismogenic zone, as ascending fluids pressurize and weaken the fault. This model might explain observations of late interseismic fault unlocking, slow slip and creep transients, swarm seismicity, and rapid pressure/stress transmission in induced seismicity sequences.

Effects of heterogeneity on frictional-viscous deformation and the depth-extent of the seismogenic zone

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ake Fagereng ◽  
Adam Beall
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Yield Strength ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Local Stress ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Viscous Deformation ◽  
Viscosity Contrast ◽  
Depth Extent

<p>Current conceptual fault models define a seismogenic zone, where earthquakes nucleate, characterised by velocity-weakening fault rocks in a dominantly frictional regime. The base of the seismogenic zone is commonly inferred to coincide with a thermally controlled onset of velocity-strengthening slip or distributed viscous deformation. The top of the seismogenic zone may be determined by low-temperature diagenetic processes and the state of consolidation and alteration. Overall, the seismogenic zone is therefore described as bounded by transitions in frictional and rheological properties. These properties are relatively well-determined for monomineralic systems and simple, planar geometries; but, many exceptions, including deep earthquakes, slow slip, and shallow creep, imply processes involving compositional, structural, or environmental heterogeneities. We explore how such heterogeneities may alter the extent of the seismogenic zone.</p><p> </p><p>We consider mixed viscous-frictional deformation and suggest a simple rule of thumb to estimate the role of heterogeneities by a combination of the viscosity contrast within the fault, and the ratio between the bulk shear stress and the yield strength of the strongest fault zone component. In this model, slip behaviour can change dynamically in response to stress and strength variations with depth and time. We quantify the model numerically, and illustrate the idea with a few field-based examples: 1) earthquakes within the viscous regime, deeper than the thermally-controlled seismogenic zone, can be triggered by an increase in the ratio of shear stress to yield strength, either by increased fluid pressure or increased local stress; 2) there is commonly a depth range of transitional behaviour at the base of the seismogenic zone – the thickness of this zone increases markedly with increased viscosity contrast within the fault zone; and 3) fault zone weakening by phyllosilicate growth and foliation development increases viscosity ratio and decreases bulk shear stress, leading to efficient, stable, fault zone creep. These examples are not new interpretations or observations, but given the substantial complexity of heterogeneous fault zones, we suggest that a simplified, conceptual model based on basic strength and stress parameters is useful in describing and assessing the effect of heterogeneities on fault slip behaviour.         </p>

scholarly journals Permeability Evolution of an Intact Marble Core during Shearing under High Fluid Pressure

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Yu Jiao ◽  
Shaobin Hu
Keyword(s):  
Normal Stress ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Shear Failure ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Displacement ◽  
Permeability Evolution ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Effective Normal Stress ◽  
High Fluid ◽  
High Fluid Pressure

The progressive shear failure of a rock mass under hydromechanical coupling is a key aspect of the long-term stability of deeply buried, high fluid pressure diversion tunnels. In this study, we use experimental and numerical analysis to quantify the permeability variations that occur in an intact marble sample as it evolves from shear failure to shear slip under different confining pressures and fluid pressures. The experimental results reveal that at low effective normal stress, the fracture permeability is positively correlated with the shear displacement. The permeability is lower at higher effective normal stress and exhibits an episodic change with increasing shear displacement. After establishing a numerical model based on the point cloud data generated by the three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning of the fracture surfaces, we found that there are some contact areas that block the percolation channels under high effective stress conditions. This type of contact area plays a key role in determining the evolution of the fracture permeability in a given rock sample.

Episodic fluid pressure cycling controls earthquake sequences on subduction megathrusts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Dal Zilio ◽  
Taras Gerya
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Finite Difference Methods ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Slow Slip ◽  
Aseismic Slip ◽  
Earthquake Physics ◽  
Megathrust Earthquakes ◽  
Pressure Cycling ◽  
Crustal Stresses

<p>A major goal in earthquake physics is to derive a constitutive framework for fault slip that captures the dependence of friction on lithology, sliding velocity, temperature, and pore fluid pressure. Here, we present a newly-developed two-phase flow numerical model — which couples solid rock deformation and pervasive fluid flow — to show how crustal stresses and fluid pressures within subducting megathrust evolve before and during slow slip and fast events. This unified 2D numerical framework couples inertial mechanical deformation and fluid flow by using finite difference methods, marker-in-cell technique, and poro-visco-elasto-plastic rheology. An adaptive time stepping allows the correct resolution of both long- and short-time scales, ranging from years to milliseconds during the dynamic propagation of dynamic rupture.</p><p>We investigate how permeability and its spatial distribution control the interseismic coupling along the megathrust interface, the interplay between seismic and aseismic slip, and the nucleation of large earthquakes. While a constant permeability leads to more regular seismic cycles, a depth dependent permeability contributes substantially to the development of two distinct megathrust zones: a shallow, locked seismogenic zone and a deep, narrow aseismic segment characterized by slow-slip events. Furthermore, we show that without requiring any specific friction law, our models reveal that permeability, episodic stress transfer and fluid pressure cycling control the predominant slip mode along the subduction megathrust. Furthermore, we analyze how rate dependent strength and dilatation affect rupture propagation and arrest. Our preliminary results show that fluid-solid poro-visco-elasto-plastic coupling behaves similarly to rate- and state-dependent friction. In this context, fluid pressure plays the role of state parameter whose time evolution is governed by: (i) the short-term elasto-plastic collapse of pores inside faults during the rupture (coseismic self-pressurization of faults) and (ii) the long-term pore-pressure diffusion from the faults into surrounding rocks (post- and interseismic relaxation of fluid pressure). This newly-developed numerical framework contributes to improve our understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying large megathrust earthquakes, and demonstrate that fluid play a key role in controlling the interplay between seismic and aseismic slip.</p>

Dual seismic migration velocities reveal imbricated fluid diffusion and aseismic slip In a Corinth Gulf  swarm (Greece)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis De Barros ◽  
Pierre Dublanchet ◽  
Frédéric Cappa ◽  
Anne Deschamps
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Mechanical Modeling ◽  
Aseismic Slip ◽  
Seismic Migration ◽  
Corinth Gulf ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Earthquake Sequences ◽  
Fluid Diffusion

<p>Fluid induced earthquake sequences generally appear as expanding swarms activating a particular fault. Such swarms are generally interpreted as fluid diffusion, which ignores the possibility of static, dynamic or aseismic triggering, and the existence of rapid migration. Here, we study the temporal evolution of a seismic swarm that occurred over a 10-day period in October 2015 in the extensional rift of the Corinth Gulf (Greece) using high-resolution earthquakes relocations. The seismicity radially migrates on a normal fault at a fluid diffusion velocity (~125 m/day). However, this migration occurs intermittently, with periods of fast expansion (2-to-10 km/day) during short seismic bursts alternating with quiescent periods. Moreover, the growing phases of the swarm illuminate a high number of repeaters. Therefore, we propose a new model to explain the combination of multiple driving processes for such swarms.  Fluid up flow in the fault may induce aseismic slip episodes, separated by phases of fluid pressure build-up. The stress perturbation due to aseismic slip may activate small asperities in the fault that produce bursts of seismicity during the most intense phase of the swarm. We then validated this model through hydro-mechanical modeling, where earthquakes consist in the failure of asperities on a creeping fault infiltrated by fluid. For that, we couple rate‐and‐state friction, non‐linear diffusivity and elasticity along a 1D interface. This model reproduces the dual migration speeds observed in real swarms. We show that migration speeds increase linearly with the mean pressurization, and are not dependent on the hydraulic diffusivity, as traditionally suggested.</p>

scholarly journals From soft sediment deformation to fluid assisted faulting in the shallow part of a subduction megathrust analogue: the Sestola Vidiciatico tectonic Unit (Northern Apennines, Italy)

2017 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 438-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVIA MITTEMPERGHER ◽  
ANNA CERCHIARI ◽  
FRANCESCA REMITTI ◽  
ANDREA FESTA
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shallow Depth ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Tectonic Unit ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
High Fluid ◽  
Sediment Deformation ◽  
Last Stage

AbstractThe Sestola Vidiciatico tectonic Unit (SVU) accommodated the early Miocene convergence between the subducting Adriatic plate and the overriding Ligurian prism, and has been interpreted as a field analogue for the shallow portion of subduction megathrusts. The SVU incorporated sediments shortly after their deposition and was active down to burial depth corresponding to temperatures around 150 °C. Here, we describe the internal architecture of the basal thrust fault of the SVU through a multi-scale structural analysis and investigate the evolution of the deformation mechanisms with increasing burial depth. At shallow depth, the thrust developed in poorly lithified sediments which deformed by particulate flow. With increasing depth and lithification of sediments, deformation was accommodated in a meter scale, heterogeneous fault zone, including multiple strands of crack-and-seal shear veins, associated with minor distributed shearing in clay-rich domains and pressure solution. In the last stage, slip localized along a sharp, 20 cm thick shear vein, deactivating the fault zone towards the footwall. The widespread formation of crack-and-seal shear veins since the first stages of lithification indicates that failure along the thrust occurred at high fluid pressure and low differential stress already at shallow depth. Progressive shear localization occurs in the last phases of deformation, at temperatures typical of the transition to the seismogenic zone in active megathrusts.

scholarly journals Fluid pressure evolution during the earthquake cycle controlled by fluid flow and pressure solution crack sealing

2002 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 1139-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Gratier ◽  
Pascal Favreau ◽  
François Renard ◽  
Eric Pili
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Pressure Solution ◽  
Earthquake Cycle ◽  
Crack Sealing ◽  
Pressure Evolution

scholarly journals Permeability evolution during fluid-pressure induced shear slip in saw-cut and natural granite fractures

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Li ◽  
Xiaodong Ma ◽  
Xiang-Zhao Kong ◽  
Martin O Saar ◽  
Daniel Vogler
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Permeability Evolution ◽  
Shear Slip

scholarly journals Heterogeneous stresses and deformation mechanisms at shallow crustal conditions, Hungaroa Fault Zone, Hikurangi Subduction Margin, New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Boulton ◽  
Marcel Mizera ◽  
Maartje Hamers ◽  
Inigo Müller ◽  
Martin Ziegler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Friction Coefficient ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Mixed Mode ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Deformation Mechanisms ◽  
Multiple Observations ◽  
Calcite Veins ◽  
Dynamic Recrystallisation ◽  
Clumped Isotope

<p>The Hungaroa Fault Zone (HFZ), an inactive thrust fault along the Hikurangi Subduction Margin, accommodated large displacements (~4–10 km) at the onset of subduction in the early Miocene. Within a 40 m-wide high-strain fault core, calcareous mudstones and marls display evidence for mixed-mode viscous flow and brittle fracture, including: discrete faults; extensional veins containing stretched calcite fibers; shear veins with calcite slickenfibers; calcite foliation-boudinage structures; calcite pressure fringes; dark dissolution seams; stylolites; embayed calcite grains; and an anastomosing phyllosilicate foliation.</p><p>Multiple observations indicate a heterogeneous stress state within the fault core. Detailed optical and electron backscatter diffraction-based texture analysis of syntectonic calcite veins and isoclinally folded limestone layers within the fault core reveal that calcite grains have experienced intracrystalline plasticity and interface mobility, and local subgrain development and dynamic recrystallisation. The recrystallized grain size in two calcite veins of 6.0±3.9 µm (n=1339; 1SD; HFZ-H4-5.2m_A;) and 7.2±4.2µm (n=406; 1SD; HFZ-H4-19.9m) indicate high differential stresses (~76–134 MPa). Hydrothermal friction experiments on a foliated, calcareous mudstone yield a friction coefficient of μ≈0.35. Using this friction coefficient in the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion yields a maximum differential stress of 55 MPa at 4 km depth, assuming a minimum principal stress equal to the vertical stress, an average sediment density of 2350 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, and hydrostatic pore fluid pressure. Interestingly, calcareous microfossils within the foliated mudstone matrix are undeformed. Moreover, calcite veins are oriented both parallel to and highly oblique to the foliation, indicating spatial and/or temporal variations in the maximum principle stress azimuth.</p><p>To further constrain HFZ deformation conditions, clumped isotope geothermometry was performed on six syntectonic calcite veins, yielding formation temperatures of 79.3±19.9°C (95% confidence interval). These temperatures are well below those at which dynamic recrystallisation of calcite is anticipated and exclude shear heating and the migration of hotter fluids as an explanation for dynamic recrystallisation of calcite at shallow crustal levels (<5 km depth).</p><p>Our results indicate that: (1) stresses are spatiotemporally heterogeneous in crustal fault zones containing mixtures of competent and incompetent minerals; (2) heterogeneous deformation mechanisms, including frictional sliding, pressure solution, dynamic recrystallization, and mixed-mode fracturing accommodate slip in shallow crustal fault zones; and (3) brittle fractures play a pivotal role in fault zone deformation by providing fluid pathways that promote fluid-enhanced recovery and dynamic recrystallisation in the deforming calcite at remarkably low temperatures. Together, field geology, microscopy, and clumped isotope geothermometry provide a powerful method for constraining the multiscale slip behavior of large-displacement fault zones.</p>

A regularized continuum model for fault zones with rate and state friction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Goudarzi ◽  
René de Borst ◽  
Taras Gerya ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
van Dinther Ylona
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Bulk Material ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Internal Length ◽  
Internal Length Scale ◽  
Earthquake Sequences

<p>Accurate representation of fault zones is important in many applications in Earth sciences, including natural and induced seismicity. The framework developed here can efficiently model fault zone localization, evolution, and spontaneous fully dynamic earthquake sequences in a continuum plasticity framework. The geometrical features of the faults are incorporated into a regularized continuum framework, while the response of the fault zone is governed by a rate and state-dependent friction. Although a continuum plasticity model is advantageous to discrete approaches in representing evolving, unknown, or arbitrarily positioned faults, it is known that either non-associated plasticity or strain-softening can lead to mesh sensitivity of the numerical results in absence of an internal length scale. A common way to regularize the numerical model and introduce an internal length scale is by the adoption of a Kelvin-type visco-plasticity element. The visco-plastic rheological behavior for the bulk material is implemented along with a return-mapping algorithm for accurate stress and strain evolution. High slip rates (in the order of 1 m/s) are captured through numerical examples of a predefined strike-slip fault zone, where a detailed comparison with a reference discrete fault model is presented. Additionally, the regularization effect of the Kelvin viscosity parameter is studied on the fault slip velocity for a growing fault zone due to an initial material imperfection.  The model is consistently linearized leading to quadratic convergence of the Newton solver. Although the proposed framework is a step towards the modeling of earthquake sequences for induced seismicity applications, the numerical model is general and can be applied to all tectonic settings including subduction zones.</p><div> <div> <div> </div> <div> <div> <div> </div> <div> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document