Spectrum of slip dynamics, scaling & statistical laws emerge from simplified model of fault and damage zone architecture (2509.04909v1)

Abstract: Seismological and geodetic observations of a fault zone reveal a wide range of slip dynamics, scaling, and statistical laws. However, the underlying physical mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we show that incorporating an off-fault damage zone-characterized by distributed fractures surrounding a main fault-can reproduce many key features observed in seismic and geodetic data. We model a 2D shear fault zone in which off-fault cracks follow power-law size and density distributions, and are oriented either optimally or parallel to the main fault. All fractures follow the rate-and-state friction law with parameters chosen such that each can host slip instabilities. We do not introduce spatial heterogeneities in the frictional properties of the fault. Using quasi-dynamic boundary integral simulations accelerated by hierarchical matrices, we simulate slip dynamics of this system and analyze the events produced both on and off the main fault. Despite the spatially uniform frictional properties, we observe a natural continuum from slow to fast ruptures, as observed in nature. Our simulations reproduce the Omori law, the inverse Omori law, the Gutenberg-Richter scaling, and the moment-duration scaling. We also observe seismicity localizing toward the main fault when an event is about to nucleate on the main fault. During slow slip events, off-fault seismicity migrates in a pattern resembling a fluid diffusion front, despite the absence of fluids in the model. We also show that tremors, Very Low Frequency Earthquakes (VLFEs), Low Frequency Earthquakes (LFEs), Slow Slip Events (SSEs), and earthquakes (EQs) can all emerge naturally in the `digital twin' framework.