Fault zones accommodate relative motion between tectonic blocks and control earthquake nucleation. This paper investigates the rheology of nanocrystalline fault rocks, finding them an order of magnitude weaker than microcrystalline counterparts. While exhibiting rate strengthening behavior due to low stress exponent and activation energy, failure occurs when weak nanocrystalline layers coalesce, a mechanism distinct from frictional instability.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Nov 22, 2021
Authors
Hongyu Sun, Matej Pec
Tags
fault zones
nanocrystalline rocks
microcrystalline rocks
earthquake nucleation
rheology
frictional instability
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