Paper detail

Intermittency and Slip-Size Distribution in the Block-Spring Model of Earthquakes

The Carlson-Langer model is a deterministic model of earthquakes. There were many investigations of this model, but its complicated spatio-temporal dynamics is not yet completely understood. We again study the model equation numerically, and obtain two new results. Firstly, we try to understand the complicated dynamics from the viewpoint of spatio-temporal intermittency. We study the intermittent dynamics of a two-block system using a one-dimensional map, which is useful for understanding an intermittent spatio-temporal chaos in larger systems. Large slips occur intermittently after repeated small slips when the parameter of the velocity weakening friction is large. Small slips reduce the spatial irregularity of block displacement, and large slips occur on a relatively flat configuration of blocks. Secondly, we study the effect of spatial heterogeneity such as asperity using percolation clusters. We show the numerical results of the slip-size distribution in the block-spring model on percolation clusters, and find that the b parameter for the magnitude distribution is close to 2/3 when the velocity weakening parameter is intermediate.