Decrypting healed fault zones: How gouge production weakens the impact
of fault roughness
Abstract
Two key parameters control the localization of deformation and
seismicity along and surrounding crustal faults: the strength and
roughness of the preexisting fault surface. Using three-dimensional
discrete element method simulations, we investigate how the anisotropy
and amplitude of roughness control the mechanical behavior of healed
faults within granite blocks during quasi-static triaxial compression.
The results show that the localization of fracture development into a
damage zone surrounding the initially weak fault zone coincides with the
macroscopic failure of the rock. Rougher faults produce more gouge than
smoother faults, providing an explanation for the weak influence of
roughness on compressive strength. The particles within smoother fault
zones slip with higher maximum fault-parallel velocities than rougher
faults during the quasi-static loading, likely because the asperities do
not impede slip as effectively in the smoother fault zone. The maximum
fault-parallel velocity occurs after the peak stress, and falls to a
steady state value by the end of the simulation, highlighting the
non-constant evolution of slip despite the constant axial strain rate
loading conditions. Smoother faults develop stronger correlations
between the fault topography and fault slip magnitudes, likely because
smoother faults experience higher velocities than rougher faults. Thus,
fault surface asperities control slip by acting as speed bumps that
hinder fault-plane parallel slip and promote fault-plane normal opening.
These numerical models provide insights into the evolution of damage
localization, fault roughness, gouge production, asperity abrasion,
fault slip and stress concentrations along initially healed faults of
varying roughness.