The role of thermal pressurization and dilatancy in controlling the rate of fault slip

Geophysical observations have shown that transient slow slip events, with average slip speeds v on the order of 10−8 to 10−7 m/s, occur in some subduction zones. These slip events occur on the same faults but at greater depth than large earthquakes (with slip speeds of order ∼ 1 m/s). We explore the hypothesis that whether slip is slow or fast depends on the competition between dilatancy, which decreases fault zone pore pressure p, and thermal pressurization, which increases p. Shear resistance to slip is assumed to follow an effective stress law τ = f (σ− p) ≡ f σ̄. We present two-dimensional quasi-dynamic simulations that include rate-state friction, dilatancy, and heat and pore fluid flow normal to the fault. We find that at lower background effective normal stress (σ̄), slow slip events occur spontaneously, whereas at higher σ̄, slip is inertially limited. At intermediate σ̄, dynamic events are followed by quiescent periods, and then long durations of repeating slow slip events. In these cases, accelerating slow events ultimately nucleate dynamic rupture. Zero-width shear zone approximations are adequate for slow slip events, but substantially overestimate the pore pressure and temperature changes during fast slip when dilatancy is included.