Minimal model for slow, sub-Rayleigh, supershear, and unsteady rupture propagation along homogeneously loaded frictional interfaces

Kjetil Thøgersen (1) , Henrik A. Sveinsson (2) , David Skålid Amundsen (3) , Julien Scheibert (4) , François Renard (1) , Anders Malthe-Sørenssen (1)

1 PGP - Physics of Geological Processes [Oslo]
2 Department of Physics [Oslo]
3 University of Exeter
4 LTDS - Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes

In nature and experiments, a large variety of rupture speeds and front modes along frictional interfaces are observed. Here, we introduce a minimal model for the rupture of homogeneously loaded interfaces with velocity strengthening dynamic friction, containing only two dimensionless parameters; τ, which governs the prestress, and ᾱ which is set by the dynamic viscosity. This model contains a large variety of front types, including slow fronts, sub-Rayleigh fronts, super-shear fronts, slip pulses, cracks, arresting fronts and fronts that alternate between arresting and propagating phases. Our results indicate that this wide range of front types is an inherent property of frictional systems with velocity strengthening branches.

Domaines: Mécanique des solides [physics.class-ph]

Kjetil Thøgersen, Henrik A. Sveinsson, David Skålid Amundsen, Julien Scheibert, François Renard, et al.. Minimal model for slow, sub-Rayleigh, supershear, and unsteady rupture propagation along homogeneously loaded frictional interfaces. Physical Review E , 2019, 100 (4), pp.043004. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevE.100.043004⟩. ⟨hal-02349696⟩