Laboratory earthquakes: the sub-Rayleigh-to-supershear rupture transition.
We report on the experimental observation of spontaneously nucleated supershear rupture and on the visualization of sub-Rayleigh-to-supershear rupture transitions in frictionally held interfaces. The laboratory experiments mimic natural earthquakes. The results suggest that under certain conditions supershear rupture propagation can be facilitated during large earthquake events.
Xia
Kaiwen
K
Seismological Laboratory, MC 252-21, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Rosakis
Ares J
AJ
Kanamori
Hiroo
H