Fast and Localized Temperature Measurements During Simulated Earthquakes in Carbonate Rocks. Issue 9 (10th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aretusini, Stefano; Núñez‐Cascajero, Arántzazu; Spagnuolo, Elena; Tapetado, Alberto; Vázquez, Carmen; Di Toro, Giulio
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 48:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-05-10
• Subjects: earthquake -- laboratory experiments -- optical fiber -- temperature measurement -- viscous creep; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2020GL091856
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: The understanding of earthquake physics is hindered by the poor knowledge of fault strength and temperature evolution during seismic slip. Experiments reproducing seismic velocity (∼1 m/s) allow us to measure both the evolution of fault strength and the associated temperature increase due to frictional heating. However, temperature measurements were performed with techniques having insufficient spatial and temporal resolution. Here we conduct high velocity friction experiments on Carrara marble rock samples sheared at 20 MPa normal stress, velocity of 0.3 and 6 m/s, and 20 m of total displacement. We measured the temperature evolution of the fault surface at the acquisition rate of 1 kHz and over a spatial resolution of ∼40 µm with an optical fiber conveying the infrared radiation to a two‐color pyrometer. Temperatures up to 1, 250°C and low coseismic fault shear strength are compatible with the activation of grain size dependent viscous creep. Key Points: Optical fibers were used to measure temperature evolution during simulated seismic slip Temperatures were up to 1, 250°C and compatible with coseismic grain size dependent creep "Frictional work" during simulated seismic slip was mostly dissipated as heat