Stress corrosion cracking in the earthTwo fundamental concepts of fracture mechanics are used to develop a theory of the earthquake mechanism which specifically predicts observed time-dependent rupture phenomena such as slow earthquakes, postseismic rupture growth and afterslip, multiple events, foreshocks, and aftershocks. The theory also predicts that there must be a nucleation stage prior to an earthquake, and suggests a physical mechanism by which one earthquake may trigger another. Investigations show that all earthquakes must be preceded by a quasi-static slip over a portion of the rupture surfaces, although it may be difficult to detect in practice, and a study of delayed multiple events characterizes the strength of some barriers in the earth as having a stress corrosion index of about 24.
Document ID
19820033294
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Collected Works
Authors
Das, S. (Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Palisades, NY, United States)
Scholz, C. H. (Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory; Columbia University Palisades, NY, United States)