Stick-slip propagation velocity and seismic source mechanism

abstract Earthquakes, at least the shallow ones, take place along pre-existing fault planes. The controlling factor is, therefore, friction, and the fault growth process resembles that of stick-slip propagation. We have simulated this process in a two-dimensional model. It is found that propagation velocity can range from sub-shear to 1.1 V s (the latter is not a limiting value).