Deciphering the Seismically Active Faults from Natural and Experimental Fault Rocks(3/3)

Active faults accommodate consequential deformations from earthquakes lasting seconds to silent creeplasting millions of years. Multi-faceted processes of fluid flow, friction and rheology shape the fault rocks at all scales. Therefore, we focus on the topics of faulting, friction and weakening (or strengthening) of seismically active faults through a group of interrelated sub-projects: (1) quantification of the internal structure of seismic sources in fault-zone rocks and its comparison with high-resolution seismological data from active faults, and recognition of mineralogical and microstructural indicators of seismic ruptures within fault zones; (2) determination of frictional properties, processes and the associated microstructures from slow to fast motion with rock deformation experiments; and (3) estimation of earthquake source parameters such as dynamic fault strength and earthquake energy budgets. This field- and experimentally-based approach will both reveal a new view of earthquake physics and provide fundamental insight together with significant applications to earthquake hazard.