Stick-Slip as a Mechanism for Earthquakes

1966/08/26 by W. F. Brace, J. D. Byerlee · 5 citations
Engineering · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geotechnical and Geomechanical Engineering #earthquake and tectonic studies #Geophysics and Sensor Technology

paper · doi:10.1126/science.153.3739.990

openalex publication_date 1966/08/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03

Abstract

Stick-slip often accompanies frictional sliding in laboratory experi ments with geologic materials. Shallow focus earthquakes may represent stick slip during sliding along old or newly formed faults in the earth In such a situation, observed stress drops repre sent release of a small fraction of the stress supported by the rock surround ing the earthquake focus.

Cited by

• Strength of the lithosphere: Constraints imposed by laboratory experiments
• Stick slip, stable sliding, and earthquakes-Effect of rock type, pressure, strain rate, and stiffness
• Aftershocks Caused by Pore Fluid Flow?
• Interactions between Temperature and Pore-Fluid Pressure during Earthquake Faulting and a Mechanism for Partial or Total Stress Relief
• William Francis Brace [wikipedia]