SeH-organizing fault systems and seH-organizing elastodynamic events on them: Geometry and the distribution of sizes of events

[1] We introduce a new model which both generates a self[Stirling et al., 1996]. To get at these issues from a organizing complex segmented fault system which then theoretical point of view, we need to tackle both the issue accommodates finite strain, and generates sequences of of fault system geometry, and event dynamics, over many elastodynamic events on that complex fault system. This earthquake cycles. opens up a new realm of study of populations of cascading [3] Here, we present a new model which both generates elastodynamic ruptures on complex fault systems. We self-consistent complex fault geometries, and generates selfexamine the distribution of sizes of events in the model, consistent elastodynamic events on those geometries. and its dependence on fault geometry. We see an evolution Further, because of the numerical efficiency of the model, from a more Gutenberg-Richter like distribution of events at we can generate long sequences of events, and study the smaller strains to a more characteristic like distribution at statistics of the populations. With this model, we can thus larger strains. We see relative insensitivity of the begin to address the fundaments! questions of the interacdistribution of sizes of events to the friction used. tion of geometry and dynamics. In this letter, we present this Examining the distributions of sizes of events on fault new model, and its application to the issue of fault geometry segments of different lengths, we find support for a and the distribution of sizes of events. modified segmentation hypothesis whereby segments both [4] Previous work has examined the evolution of popbreak in power law small events and occasionally ulations of events on complex fault systems; these participate in cascading multisegment larger ruptores, but approaches have, however, neglected the dynamics on the also predominantly break as a unit.