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Finite-Size Effects on Return Interval Distributions for Weakest-Link-Scaling Systems

The Weibull distribution is a commonly used model for the strength of brittle materials and earthquake return intervals. Deviations from Weibull scaling, however, have been observed in earthquake return intervals and in the fracture strength of quasi-brittle materials. We investigate weakest-link scaling in finite-size systems and deviations of empirical return interval distributions from the Weibull distribution function. We use the ansatz that the survival probability function of a system with complex interactions among its units can be expressed as the product of the survival probability functions for an ensemble of representative volume elements (RVEs). We show that if the system comprises a finite number of RVEs, it obeys the $κ$-Weibull distribution. We conduct statistical analysis of experimental data and simulations that show good agreement with the $κ$-Weibull distribution. We show the following: (1) The weakest-link theory for finite-size systems involves the $κ$-Weibull distribution. (2) The power-law decline of the $κ$-Weibull upper tail can explain deviations from the Weibull scaling observed in return interval data. (3) The hazard rate function of the $κ$-Weibull distribution decreases linearly after a waiting time $τ_c \propto n^{1/m}$, where $m$ is the Weibull modulus and $n$ is the system size in terms of representative volume elements. (4) The $κ$-Weibull provides competitive fits to the return interval distributions of seismic data and of avalanches in a fiber bundle model. In conclusion, using theoretical and statistical analysis of real and simulated data, we show that the $κ$-Weibull distribution is a useful model for extreme-event return intervals in finite-size systems.