Interplay of gouge, fluid pressure and porosity in fault zones

Abstract

The objective of this study is to demonstrate how fault dynamics may naturally be placed in the context of incremental stress theory, rock textural evolution modeling and standard conservation laws. Casting the fault dynamics problem in this framework naturally introduces rock memory for failure, fluid pressure effects and the autonomous nature of fault evolution. Poroelasticity, nonlinear viscosity and gouge are combined in an incremental stress rheology approach to examine the effect of changes in particle size distribution on fluid pressure in fault zones. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.