Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : International audience
Observations from deep boreholes at several locations worldwide, laboratory measurements of frictional strength on quartzo-feldspathic materials, and earthquake focal mechanisms indicate that crustal faults are strong (apparent friction μ ≥ 0.6). However, friction experiments on phyllosilicate-rich rocks and some geophysical data have demonstrated that some major faults are considerably weaker. This weakness is commonly considered to be characteristic of mature faults in which rocks are altered by prolonged deformation and fluid-rock interaction (i.e., San Andreas, Zuccale, and Nankai Faults). In contrast, in this study we document fault weakening occurring along a marly shear zone in its infancy (<30 m displacement). Geochemical mass balance calculation and microstructural data show that a massive calcite departure (up to 50 vol %) from the fault rocks facilitated the concentration and reorganization of weak phyllosilicate minerals along the shear surfaces. Friction experiments carried out on intact foliated samples of host marls and fault rocks demonstrated that this structural reorganization lead to a significant fault weakening and that the incipient structure has strength and slip behavior comparable to that of the major weak faults previously documented. These results indicate that some faults, especially those nucleating in lithologies rich of both clays and high-solubility minerals (such as calcite), might experience rapid mineralogical and structural alteration and become weak even in the early stages of their activity.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-01211481
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01211481
DOI : 10.1002/2014TC003716

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
The tribologic properties of graphitized carbon blacks and their fluorinated derivatives are investigated as a function of the fluorination rate. Very low intrinsic friction coefficients are obtained for highly fluorinated compounds. The correlation of the tribologic results and structural investigations of the initial compounds by TEM strongly suggests that the friction mechanisms involve surface effects in the early stage of friction. Long-term tribologic experiments and Raman analyses point out an evolution of the structure and composition of the tribofilms during the friction process leading to similar friction properties of the tribofilms. Wear studies revealed that highly fluorinated derivatives appear less efficient than pristine and weakly fluorinated compounds.
ISSN: 1023-8883

hal-01121785
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01121785
DOI : 10.1007/s11249-014-0406-0

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
We present a 2-D Contact Dynamics discrete element model for simulating initiation and motion of rock avalanches, integrating hillslope geometry, Mohr-Coulomb rock behavior, pore pressure before avalanche triggering, and avalanche trigger. Avalanche motion is modeled as a dense granular flow of dry frictional and cohesive particles. On the basis of granular physics and shear experiments, we review some of the theories for the unexpectedly long runout of rock avalanches. Different causes are evoked, according to the strength (strong or weak) of the slip surface relative to the bulk. "Mechanical fluidization'' and "acoustic fluidization'' theories state that agitation of rock particles reduces frictional strength, increasing runout. Conversely, granular mechanics suggests that, as "shear-strain'' rate increases, granular material becomes more agitated, more dissipative, and more resistant. Another theory states that dynamic fragmentation of clasts creates an isotropic pressure that drives longer runout. In contrast, granular mechanics suggests that fragmentation may induce fluidization and strengthening of the granular material, while particle size reduction (among others) induces weakening of the granular flow and enhances long runout. Runout is also enhanced for column-like rock masses collapsing from steep hillslopes. Long runout may also be linked to thermal weakening mechanisms at the slip surface (e.g., thermal pressurization, and shear melting), which may lower drastically the shear strength. The model is illustrated with a hypothetical example of a rain-triggered avalanche, mobilizing shallowly dipping layers. Several phases are identified, including slope failure, avalanche triggering resulting from slip weakening, and avalanche motion in which rocks are folded and sheared.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-00420883
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00420883
DOI : 10.1029/2008JF001072

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The present PhD thesis is devoted to the numerical simulation and analysis of shear on cohesive granular materials. In the framework of the Contact Dynamics method, we developed a model of cohesive bonding, which mimics cohesion by cementation. This model involves three contact strength parameters (a tensile strength, a coefficient of sliding friction, and a coefficient of rolling friction) as well as a local criterion, which controls the creation and the breaking of cohesive bonds. All contacts are cohesive at the beginning of the numerical simulations, and contact rupture leads to an irreversible loss of tensile strength (debonding). We varied systematically the three contact strength parameters and studied their influence on the shear strength, the dilatancy, and the microstructure of the granular media. Our results show that internal friction and macroscopic tensile strength have different origins at the contact scale. We also find that the microstructure of the granular media, when sheared at the steady state (also known as the `critical state"), is strongly affected by the local coefficients of sliding and rolling friction. In particular, the mechanical role of the weak network changes with these two contact parameters, which results from the formation of a new structure of force transmission. On the other hand, we also applied the same numerical simulation method to the simulation of landslides. We developed a methodology, which takes into account the initial morphology of the hillslope, the strength of geomaterials, and a triggering factor, integrating in the same model the initiation and propagation phases of the landslide. To illustrate this methodology, we applied it to the simulation of a hypothetical example of avalanche triggered by the progressive rise of a water table.
Ce travail de thèse porte sur la modélisation numérique et l'analyse du cisaillement dans les milieux granulaires cohésifs. Dans le cadre de la méthode de la Dynamique des Contacts, nous avons développé un modèle de cohésion qui cherche à imiter la cohésion par cimentation. Ce modèle fait intervenir trois paramètres de résistance au niveau des contacts (une résistance à la traction, un coefficient de frottement de glissement, et un coefficient de frottement de roulement) ainsi qu'un critère de création et de rupture des liens cohésifs. Les contacts sont cohésifs au début des simulations et leur rupture entraîne la perte irréversible de la résistance à la traction. Nous avons fait varier les trois paramètres microscopiques et nous avons étudié leur influence dans la résistance au cisaillement, la dilatance, et la microstructure du milieu. Nos résultats montrent que le frottement interne et l'adhésion macroscopiques ont des origines microscopiques différentes. Nous observons aussi que la microstructure du milieu cisaillé à l'état stationnaire (aussi connu comme ``l'état critique") est fortement affectée par l'angle de frottement et la résistance au roulement au niveau des contacts. En particulier, le rôle mécanique du réseau faible change avec ces deux paramètres microscopiques, ce qui résulte de la formation d'une nouvelle structure de transmission de forces. D'autre part, nous avons appliqué cette méthode de simulation numérique à l'étude d'un processus naturel : les glissements de terrain. Nous avons développé une méthodologie qui tient compte de la morphologie initiale du système, de la résistance des géomatériaux, et d'un mécanisme de déclanchement, ce qui permet d'intégrer dans le même modèle les phases d'initiation et de propagation du glissement. Pour illustrer cette méthodologie, nous l'avons appliquée à la modélisation d'un exemple hypothétique d'avalanche déclenchée par la montée progressive du niveau d'une nappe d'eau.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00311303

tel-00311303
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00311303
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00311303/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00311303/file/these_estrada.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Nanotribological properties of NbSe2 are studied using an atomic friction force microscope. The friction force is measured as a function of normal load and scan speeds ranging from 10 nm s−1 to 40 μm s−1 under two atmospheres (air and argon). At low speed, no effect of atmosphere is noticed and a linear relationship between the friction and normal forces is observed leading to a friction coefficient close to 0.02 for both atmospheres. At high speed, the tip/surface contact obeys the JKR theory and the tribological properties are atmosphere dependent: the shear stress measured in air environment is three times lower than the one measured under argon atmosphere. A special attention is paid to interpret these results through numerical data obtained from a simple athermal model based on Tomlinson approach.
ISSN: 1023-8883

hal-00780496
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00780496
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00780496/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00780496/file/Delbe_6345.pdf
DOI : 10.1007/s11249-008-9400-8

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD AGU and the Geochemical Society
Résumé : International audience
1] Recent statistical analysis by Lallemand et al. (2008) of subduction zone parameters revealed that the back-arc deformation mode depends on the combination between the subducting (nu(sub)) and upper (nu(up)) plate velocities. No significant strain is recorded in the arc area if plate kinematics verifies nu(up) = 0.5 vsub - 2.3 (cm/a) in the HS3 reference frame. Arc spreading ( shortening) occurs if nu(up) is greater ( lower) than the preceding relationship. We test this statistical law with numerical models of subduction, by applying constant plate velocities far away from the subduction zone. The subducting lithosphere is free to deform at all depths. We quantify the force applied on the two converging plates to sustain constant surface velocities. The simulated rheology combined viscous (non-Newtonian) and brittle behaviors, and depends on water content. The influence of subduction rate vs is first studied for a fixed upper plate. After 950 km of convergence ( steady state slab pull), the transition from extensional to compressive stresses in the upper plate occurs for vs similar to 1.4 cm/a. The effect of upper plate velocity is then tested at constant subduction rate. Upper plate retreat ( advance) with respect to the trench increases extension ( compression) in the arc lithosphere and increases ( decreases) the subducting plate dip. Our modeling confirms the statistical kinematic relationship between vsub and nu(up) that describes the transition from extensional to compressive stresses in the arc lithosphere, even if the modeled law is shifted toward higher rates of upper plate retreat, using our set of physical parameters ( e. g., 100 km thick subducting oceanic plate) and short- term simulations. Our results make valid the choice of the HS3 reference frame for assessing plate velocity influence on arc tectonic regime. The subduction model suggests that friction along the interplate contact and the mantle Stokes reaction could be the two main forces competing against slab pull for upper mantle subductions. Besides, our simulations show that the arc deformation mode is strongly time dependent.
ISSN: 1525-2027

hal-00412328
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412328
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412328/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412328/file/arcayG32008.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/2007GC001875

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
This work is concerned with the study of the tribologic properties of room temperature fluorinated graphite heat-treated under fluorine atmosphere. The fluorinated compounds all present good intrinsic friction properties (friction coefficient in the range 0.05–0.09). The tribologic performances are optimized if the materials present remaining graphitic domains (influenced by the presence of intercalated fluorinated species) whereas the perfluorinated compounds, where the fluorocarbon layers are corrugated (armchair configuration of the saturated carbon rings) present higher friction coefficients. Raman analyses reveal that the friction process induces severe changes in the materials structure especially the partial re-building of graphitic domains in the case of perfluorinated compounds which explains the improvement of μ during the friction tests for these last materials.
ISSN: 1023-8883

hal-00767637
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00767637
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00767637/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00767637/file/Delbe_6329.pdf
DOI : 10.1007/s11249-009-9487-6

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
We performed 31 friction experiments on glassy basalts (GB) and glass-free basalts (GFB) at slip rates up to 6.5 m s−1 and normal stress up to 40 MPa (seismic conditions). Frictional weakening was associated to bulk frictional melting and lubrication. The weakening distance (Dw) was about 3 times shorter in GB than in GFB, but the steady state friction was systematically higher in GB than in GFB. The shorter Dw in GB may be explained by the thermal softening occurring at the glass transition temperature (Tg ~500°C), which is lower than the bulk melting temperature (Tm ~1250°C) of GFB. Postexperiment microanalyses suggest that the larger crystal fraction measured in GB melts results in the higher steady state friction value compared to the GFB melts. The effect of interstitial glass is to facilitate frictional instability and rupture propagation in GB with respect to GFB.
ISSN: 0094-8276

hal-01054139
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01054139
DOI : 10.1002/2013GL058601

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
The brittle to ductile transition (BDT) in rocks may strongly influence their transport properties (i.e., permeability, porosity topology ...) and the maximum depth and temperature where hydrothermal fluids may circulate. To examine this transition in the context of Icelandic crust, we conducted deformation experiments on a glassy basalt (GB) and a glass-free basalt (GFB) under oceanic crust conditions. Mechanical and micro-structural observations at a constant strain rate of 10(-5) s(-1) and at confining pressure of 100-300 MPa indicate that the rocks are brittle and dilatant up to 700-800 degrees C. At higher temperatures and effective pressures the deformation mode becomes macroscopically ductile, i.e., deformation is distributed throughout the sample and no localized shear rupture plane develops. The presence of glass is a key component reducing the sample strength and lowering the pressure of the BDT. In the brittle field, strength is consistent with a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with an internal coefficient of friction of 0.42 for both samples. In the ductile field, strength is strain rate-and temperature-dependent and both samples were characterized by the same stress exponent in the range 3 < n < 4.2 but by very different activation energy Q(GB) = 59 +/- 15 KJ/mol and Q(GFB) = 456 +/- 4 KJ/mol. Extrapolation of these results to the Iceland oceanic crust conditions predicts a BDT at similar to 100 degrees C for a glassy basalt, whereas the BDT might occur in non-glassy basalts at deeper conditions, i.e., temperatures higher than 550 +/- 100 degrees C, in agreement with the Icelandic seismogenic zone.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-00760905
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00760905
DOI : 10.1029/2011JB008884

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Physical Society
Résumé : International audience
We investigate a class of granular materials characterized by the possibility of interlocking between the particles. The interlocking is modeled by its effect through rolling resistance depending on relative rotation and normal force at the contact points and involving a single parameter analogous to the sliding friction coefficient. The model, which is introduced in the framework of the contact dynamics, method, is applied to simulate the simple shear of a large granular sample. We present a detailed analysis regarding the influence of rolling and sliding friction parameters on the macroscopic response in terms of shear strength, fabric properties, and force transmission. Interestingly, two distinct regimes can be distinguished in which the steady-state shear strength is controlled by either rolling resistance or sliding friction. The relative contributions of rolling and sliding contacts to the shear strength are consistent with the same two regimes. Interlocking strongly affects the force network by enhancing the arching effect and thus increasing the relative importance of weak contact forces and torques, which is reflected in a decreasing power-law probability distribution of the contact forces and torques below the mean. Due to the combined effect of friction and interlocking, the force-carrying backbone takes an increasingly columnar aspect involving a low fraction of particles. Our data suggest that the nature of the weak contact network is strongly affected by the formation of these columns of particles which do not need to be propped laterally. In particular, in the limit of high rolling resistance and sliding friction, the role of the weak network of contacts is no longer to prop the force chains, but, like the strong contact network, to actively sustain the deviatoric load imposed on the system.
ISSN: 1539-3755

hal-00412020
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412020
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.021301

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Talc is a hydrous magnesium rich layered silicate that is widely disseminated in the Earth from the seafloor to over 100 km depth, in ultra-high pressure metamorphism of oceanic crust. In this paper we determine the single crystal elastic constants at pressures from 0 to 12 GPa of talc triclinic (C 1¯) and monoclinic (C2/c) polytypes using ab initio methods. We find that talc has an extraordinarily high elastic anisotropy at zero pressure that reduces with increasing pressure. The exceptional anisotropy is complemented by a negative Poisson's ratio for many directions in crystal space. Calculations show that talc is not only one of very few common minerals to exhibit auxetic behaviour, but the magnitude of this effect may be the largest reported so far for a mineral. The compression (Vp) and shear (Vs) wave velocity anisotropy is 80% and 85% for the triclinic polytype. At pressures where talc is known be stable in the Earth (up to 5 GPa) the Vp and Vs anisotropy is reduced to about 40% for both velocities, which is still a very high value. Vp is slow parallel to the c-axis and fast perpendicular to it. This remains unchanged with increasing pressure and is observed in both polytypes. The shear wave splitting (difference between fast and slow S-wave velocities) at low pressure has high values in the plane normal to the c-axis, with a maximum near the alow asterisk-axis in the triclinic and the b-axis in the monoclinic polytype. The c-axis is the direction of minimum splitting. The pattern of shear wave splitting does not change significantly with pressure. The volume fraction of talc varies between 11 and 41% for hydrated mantle rocks, but the lack of data on the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) precludes a detailed analysis of the impact of talc on seismic anisotropy in subduction zones. However, it is highly likely that CPO can easily develop in zones of deformation due to the platy habit of talc crystals. For random aggregates of talc, the isotropic Vp, Vs and Vp/Vs ratio have significantly lower values than those of antigorite and may explain low-velocity regions in the mantle wedge. Vp/Vs ratios are more complex in anisotropic media because there are fast and slow S-waves, resulting in Vp/Vs1 and Vp/Vs2 ratios for every propagation direction, making interpretation difficult in deformed polycrystalline talc with a CPO. Talc on the subduction plate boundary can strongly influence guided wave velocity as CPO would develop in this region of intense shearing. The very low coefficient of friction (< 0.1) of talc above 100 °C could also explain silent earthquakes at shallow depths (ca 30 km) along the subduction plate boundaries, frequently responsible for tsunami.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00411481
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00411481
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.07.047

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Networks of localized conjugate compactive shear bands with large dihedral angles (corresponding to so-called shear-enhanced compaction bands) were generated in 3-layer plane strain finite-difference models. The central layer has elastic–plastic properties with a small positive internal friction coefficient, negative dilatancy factor, and the hardening modulus reducing during the deformation. The two other layers are elastic. The spatial organization of the networks in the central layer, resulting from the elastic–plastic instability of the 3-layer system, was shown to be dependent on the contrast of the elastic stiffness of the layers and on the friction between them. When the stiffness E of the elastic layers and/or the friction are small, the networks are rather symmetric (the bands of both orientation families are distributed homogeneously within the layer). An increase in E at high friction, results in the clustering of the bands of one orientation along a layer segment which is followed by another segment filled with the bands of the other orientation. Different network types are characterized by different band spacing which is smaller in the clustered networks. The intensity of inelastic deformation and hence of porosity reduction within the bands are also smaller in this case. The obtained band networks are very similar to those in nature where the same variability of the network organization is observed. Available geological and mechanical data confirm the conclusions from the modeling about the origin of this variability.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-01116201
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01116201
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2014.01.021

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : International audience
Physical modeling of oblique subduction is performed to study the mechanism of strain partitioning. The model is two-layer and includes the elasto-plastic lithosphere (the overriding and subducting plates) and the low-viscosity liquid asthenosphere. The subduction is driven by a push force from a piston and a pull force when the density contrast Ap between the subducting plate and the asthenosphere is positive. We vary both Ap and the interplate friction (frictional stresses). Slip partitioning is obtained only in the models with high interplate friction and only when the overriding plate contains a weak zone. This zone in the models corresponds either to locally thinned litho-sphere or to cut (fault). The horizontal, trench-normal component of the interplate friction force [Ffh[ can be comparable with the absolute value of the horizontal component of the nonhydrostatic interplate pressure force [Fph [ in the subduction zone. Ffh is always negative (compression), while Fph can be either negative (compressional subduction regime) or positive (extensional regime). High friction, which promotes partitioning, can completely cancel the extensional (suction) force Fph. Back arc tension and strike-slip faulting appear thus as conflicting processes, although they can coexist in the same subduction zone, depending on the relative values of relevant forces. It appears that high friction can exist only in compressional subduction zones where partitioning should develop more easily. This conclusion is supported by the comparison of two oblique subduction zones, having similar geometry: the compressional southern Kurile zone (strong partitioning) and extensional southern Ryukyu zone (no lithospheric-scale partitioning). Other factors controlling the strain partitioning are the length of the oblique subductlon zone, the boundary conditions at the transverse limits of the forearc sliver, and of course, the obliquity of subduction.
ISSN: 2169-9275

hal-01261396
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261396
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261396/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261396/file/chemendaJGR2000.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/1999JB900332

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Fault friction is a parameter that is difficult to assess along fault zones since its determination depends on the knowledge of any factor controlling the state of stress around faults. In brittle homogeneous rocks, a limited number of these factors, such as the shape of the fault surface, the vicinity of fault tips or the remote stress ratio, are crucial to constrain for this determination. In this paper, we propose to analyse a field example in which all these properties are met and where the nature of the slipped structure suggest differences in static friction. We compare the orientations of branching fractures at strike-slip relay zones between en echelon stylolites and en echelon joints both reactivated in shear. The field data are compared with both photoelastic and 3-D numerical models that consider the remote stress conditions and the role of the geometry of the strike-slip segments. Based on field observations, these analyses quantitatively demonstrate the significant role of fault friction on the local stress field orientation and subsequent fracture formation. This work points out that estimations of fault friction based on analyses of fracture patterns or in situ stresses must be accompanied with a thorough investigation of the 3-D fault shape, its segmentation and the remote stress state.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-00560999
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00560999
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2010.01.008

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The present work is concerned with the study of the tribological properties of various fluorinated carbon phases obtained at room temperature and then post-treated under fluorine atmosphere at different temperatures. The tribological tests evidence good intrinsic properties for all the compounds (friction coefficient in the range 0.07-0.09). Differences appear after few cycles. Friction measurements after 100 cycles and complementary Raman analyses of the tribofilm remaining in the wear scar point out that long term tribologic properties of the fluorinated compounds strongly depend on the evolution undergone by the materials under friction. The release of HF molecules, the loss of fluorine and partial rebuilding of graphitic phases are at the origin of the degradation of the friction properties. The good properties of the compounds post-treated at temperature in the range 150-300 °C are attributed to the chemical and structural stability of these compounds under friction.
ISSN: 0022-3697

hal-00756133
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00756133
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00756133/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00756133/file/Delbe_6346.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.jpcs.2006.01.084

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD E Schweizerbart Science Publishers
Résumé : International audience
We present an electron tomography study of dislocations in deformed olivine single crystals, at ca. 0.5 T m, along two distinct orientations. The easiest slip systems are [001](100) and [001]{110}. Disorientating a single crystal away from easy glide conditions leads to massive cross-slip, which generates three-dimensional dislocations, and thus contributes to hardening. Fast motion of curved non-screw dislocation in those planes leaves long straight screw dislocations which bear lattice friction and control plastic strain. We have identified several hardening mechanisms. Non-screw [001] dislocations interact elastically to form dipoles. Recovery mechanisms leading to dipole annihilation are observed, but they are slow at those temperatures and produce numerous sessile loops. These loops represent obstacles for gliding dislocations. Interactions between dislocations and sessile loops produce sessile segments (super jogs), which efficiently impede dislocation motions.
ISSN: 0935-1221

hal-01277821
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01277821
DOI : 10.1127/ejm/2015/0027-2481

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We use first first-principle methods and the Peierls-Nabarro model to evaluate the resistance to glide, characterized by the Peierls stress, of glide systems for end-member MgSiO3 Perovskite at mantle pressures. [010](100) is the easiest glide system in Mg-Perovskite at all pressures. Peierls stresses increase systematically with pressure for all systems except [001](010), indicating the importance of lattice friction at lower mantle pressures. The ratio of the maximum Peierls stress for each system relative to the [010](100) value defines their critical resolved shear stress (CRSS). These CRSS are used in a visco-plastic self-consistent homogenization model to predict the evolution of crystal preferred orientations (CPO) during deformation of polycrystalline Mg-Perovskite. In axial compression, [100] tends to align with the compression direction, in agreement with in situ observations in axial compression experiments. In simple shear, [010] concentrates near the shear direction and (100), although more dispersed, tends to align near the shear plane, consistent with the dominant activity of the easier [010](100) system. The calculated seismic anisotropy for a 100% Mg-Perovskite aggregate using the CPO in simple shear and the elastic constants Of MgSiO3 perovskite at lower mantle pressures and temperatures is weak (>3% for P-waves with and >2% for S-waves) and decreases with increasing temperature and pressure. P-waves show the fastest propagation parallel to the lineation and S-waves fast polarization is in the foliation at 38 GPa and normal to the lineation at 88 GPa. This weak anisotropy is consistent with global seismological observations of a nearly isotropic lower mantle. There are however two regions where strain-induced Mg-Perovskite CPO could contribute to anisotropy; a) low temperature regions in the uppermost lower mantle, where the predicted S-wave polarization anisotropy may attain 1.6% with a fast polarization parallel to the foliation, b) in high high-temperature domains in the D '' layer, where Mg-Perovskite may be the major stable phase, leading to polarization of fast S-waves normal to the lineation for propagation directions at high angle to the lineation and an apparent isotropy for all other propagation directions.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00411460
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00411460
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.03.058

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
Seismic reflection profiles from the sediment rich Alaska subduction zone image short, frontally accreted, imbricate thrust slices and repeated sequences of long, underthrust sheets. Rapid landward increases in wedge thickness, backthrusting, and uplift of the forearc are observed, suggesting underthrusting beneath the wedge. These features and a widely varying frontal wedge morphology are interpreted to be caused by different modes of accretion active concurrently along the trench at different locations. Episodic wedge growth is observed in high basal friction experiments using sand as an analog material. Two phases of an accretionary cycle can be distinguished: frontal accretion of short imbricate thrust slices, alternating with underthrusting of long, undeformed sheets. The phase is shown experimentally to depend upon the surface slope of the wedge. Mechanical analysis of the forces at work predicts these two modes of deformation due to the varying frictional forces and yield strengths for a temporally varying wedge geometry. Maximum length of thrust slices is calculated for experimental conditions and confirmed by the observations. For a steep frontal slope (at the upper limit of the Mohr-Coulomb taper stability field) the overburden is too great to permit underthrusting, and failure occurs repeatedly at the wedge front producing short imbricate slices. The wedge grows forward, lowering the surface angle to the minimum critical taper. For a shallow frontal slope the reduced overburden along an active roof thrust permits sustained underthrusting, causing frontal erosion and backthrusting, steepening the wedge and thus completing the cycle.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-01261538
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261538
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261538/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261538/file/gutscherJGR1998.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Geological Society of America
Résumé : International audience
Fluid-rock interactions can control earthquake nucleation and the evolution of earthquake sequences. Experimental studies of fault frictional properties in the presence of fluid can provide unique insights into these interactions. We report the first results from experiments performed on cohesive silicate-bearing rocks (microgabbro) in the presence of pressurized pore fluids (H2O, drained conditions) at realistic seismic deformation conditions. The experimental data are compared with those recently obtained from carbonate-bearing rocks (Carrara marble). Contrary to theoretical arguments, and consistent with the interpretation of some field observations, we show that frictional melting of a microgabbro develops in the presence of water. In microgabbro, the initial weakening mechanism (flash melting of the asperities) is delayed in the presence of water; conversely, in calcite marble the weakening mechanism (brittle failure of the asperities) is favored. This opposite behavior highlights the importance of host-rock composition in controlling dynamic (frictional) weakening in the presence of water: cohesive carbonate-bearing rocks are more prone to slip in the presence of water, whereas the presence of water might delay or inhibit the rupture nucleation and propagation in cohesive silicate-bearing rocks.
ISSN: 0091-7613

hal-01054327
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01054327
DOI : 10.1130/G34916.1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
The reactivation of faults with near-optimal orientations is commonly considered to control the state of stress in the crust. Near the surface, where a principal stress direction is vertical, the attitude of such faults is explained by Anderson's theory. This raises the questions of how prevalent this type of faulting actually is in current seismicity, down to what depth it frequently occurs, and what range of friction angles explains it best. The Global Centroid Moment Tensor catalog is analyzed to address these questions. Dip-slip and strike-slip mechanisms are dominant, and oblique slips are relatively rare for well-constrained events with depths shallower than 30 km. Preferred Andersonian faulting is the simplest, but not the unique, explanation for this dominance. Isolating reverse, strike- slip, and normal events reveals an asymmetry in the distribution of nodal plane dips and plunges of the P, B, and T axes between reverse and normal faulting. Assuming that the most frequent events correspond to reactivation near optimal orientations yields 40-60 degrees and 0-20 degrees friction angles for reverse and normal faults, respectively. This indicates that reverse and normal faulting mechanics are not symmetrical with respect to stress configuration as predicted by Anderson's theory.
ISSN: 8755-1209

hal-00412159
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412159
DOI : 10.1029/2007RG000240