Determination of fault friction from reactivation of abyssal-hill faults in subduction zones

Research Article| September 01, 2007 Determination of fault friction from reactivation of abyssal-hill faults in subduction zones M. Billen; M. Billen 1Department of Geology, University of California–Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. Cowgill; E. Cowgill 1Department of Geology, University of California–Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. Buer E. Buer 1Department of Geology, University of California–Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2007) 35 (9): 819–822. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23847A.1 Article history received: 12 Mar 2007 rev-recd: 20 Apr 2007 accepted: 28 Apr 2007 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation M. Billen, E. Cowgill, E. Buer; Determination of fault friction from reactivation of abyssal-hill faults in subduction zones. Geology 2007;; 35 (9): 819–822. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23847A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Abyssal-hill faults are reactivated on the outer slope of trenches when they strike within 25° from trench parallel; otherwise, new faults form parallel to the trench. We use the observed transition angle (25°) and a three-dimensional failure analysis to determine the coefficient of friction on reactivated abyssal-hill faults. The stress state in the outer slope is modeled as the superposition of the overburden stress and bending-induced plane strain deformation. If new trench-parallel faults fail according to a linear failure relationship with no cohesion, then determination of the coefficient of sliding friction (μs) on reactivated faults is independent of the absolute value of the principal stresses and depends only on the Poisson ratio of the crust and the slope of the failure law for new faults (μf). We find that reactivated faults, dipping at 45°, are ∼30% weaker than surrounding crust (e.g., μs = 0.6 for μf = 0.85). These results suggest that the variation in the strength of oceanic crust due to the seafloor spreading fabric is small, and that the coefficient of sliding friction on oceanic faults is consistent with that observed in the laboratory. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.