Spectral-element simulations of long-term fault slip: Effect of low-rigidity layers on earthquake-cycle dynamics

We develop a spectral element method for the simulation of long‐term histories of spontaneous seismic and aseismic slip on faults subjected to tectonic loading. Our approach reproduces all stages of earthquake cycles: nucleation and propagation of earthquake rupture, postseismic slip and interseismic creep. We apply the developed methodology to study the effects of low‐rigidity layers on the dynamics of the earthquake cycle in 2‐D. We consider two cases: small (M ∼ 1) earthquakes on a fault surrounded by a damaged fault zone and large (M ∼ 7) earthquakes on a vertical strike‐slip fault that cuts through shallow low‐rigidity layers. Our results indicate how the source properties of repeating earthquakes are affected by the presence of a damaged fault zone with low rigidity. Compared to faults in homogeneous media, we find (1) reduction in the earthquake nucleation size, (2) amplification of slip rates during dynamic rupture propagation, (3) larger recurrence interval, and (4) smaller amount of aseismic slip. Based on linear stability analysis, we derive a theoretical estimate of the nucleation size as a function of the width and rigidity reduction of the fault zone layer, which is in good agreement with simulated nucleation sizes. We further examine the effects of vertically‐stratified layers (e.g., sedimentary basins) on the nature of shallow coseismic slip deficit. Our results suggest that low‐rigidity shallow layers alone do not lead to coseismic slip deficit. While the low‐rigidity layers result in lower interseismic stress accumulation, they also cause dynamic amplification of slip rates, with the net effect on slip being nearly zero. Key Points Spectral element modeling of spontaneous earthquake cycles is presented Source properties of repeating earthquakes are affected by damaged fault zones Near‐surface low‐rigidity layers do not lead to the reduction of coseismic slip