Fully Contained Laboratory Earthquakes: The Effect of Asperity Aspect Ratio and Free Surfaces

Abstract

Corner frequency (fc) and seismic moment (M0) are key parameters derived from seismic signals that are used to characterize earthquake stress drop, rupture area, and slip. These parameters are also affected by fault geometry and boundary conditions. However, the systematic study of these effects in laboratory settings has been challenging. This study presents laboratory earthquake experiments that examine how rupture dynamics are influenced by (a) the aspect ratio of rectangular PMMA velocity‐weakening (VW) asperities surrounded by the Teflon velocity‐strengthening (VS) patches, and (b) whether the sides of a VW asperity are confined with VS patches or are free surfaces. We found that increasing confinement by reducing free surfaces or increasing the VW asperity aspect ratio stabilizes fault slip, so that higher normal stress is required to transition from aseismic to seismic slip. Increased confinement and high aspect ratios also reduced M0 and increased fc, both of which were determined from the radiated seismic waves. M0 and fc were primarily controlled by the shorter dimension of the VW asperity. Analysis of high‐frequency acoustic emission signals revealed that ruptures on high‐aspect‐ratio VW asperities propagated more unidirectionally, whereas ruptures on square VW asperities were more complex. Further, the high‐aspect‐ratio asperities were more likely to be eroded by surrounding VS regions while low‐aspect‐ratio asperities were more likely to rupture into the VS surroundings. These results demonstrate that both the confinement from surrounding stable areas and the geometry of the seismogenic patch can affect rupture nucleation, propagation, and seismic source characteristics.