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arXiv · 1306.3658

Instabilities at Frictional Interfaces: Creep Patches, Nucleation and Rupture Fronts

Yohai Bar-Sinai·Robert Spatschek·Efim A. Brener·Eran Bouchbinder
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Abstract

The strength and stability of frictional interfaces, ranging from tribological systems to earthquake faults, are intimately related to the underlying spatially-extended dynamics. Here we provide a comprehensive theoretical account, both analytic and numeric, of spatiotemporal interfacial dynamics in a realistic rate-and-state friction model, featuring both velocity-weakening and strengthening behaviors. Slowly extending, loading-rate dependent, creep patches undergo a linear instability at a critical nucleation size, which is nearly independent of interfacial history, initial stress conditions and velocity-strengthening friction. Nonlinear propagating rupture fronts -- the outcome of instability -- depend sensitively on the stress state and velocity-strengthening friction. Rupture fronts span a wide range of propagation velocities and are related to steady state fronts solutions.

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Yohai Bar-Sinai, Robert Spatschek, Efim A. Brener, Eran Bouchbinder. 2013-12-16. Instabilities at Frictional Interfaces: Creep Patches, Nucleation and Rupture Fronts. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.88.060403

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