Friction models of one-dimensional earthquakes

Abstract

A number of fundamental characteristics of earthquake physics are reproduced by simple stick-slip friction models. These include creep motion, stick/slip periodic earthquakes, reduced frequency of occurrence for more energetic quakes, ground velocity proportional to slip duration, and ground displacement proportional to fault length. By confining attention to one dimension, these results are obtained analytically. Though many earthquake characteristics cannot be reproduced in a one-dimensional model, our simple approach nevertheless has pedagogical value in providing insight into some of the complicated dynamics of earthquakes.