Dynamics of granular media is the key to understanding behavior of many natural systems. In this work we concentrate on studying regularities of deformation of a gouge-filled fault. Confined granular layer – model fault – subjected to an external stress may display sudden slip owing to rearrangement of the granular layer. In nature fast slip along a fault results in an earthquake. To understand fault behavior better, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of acoustic emission (AE) data that accompany stick-slip in granular media. Here we reveal and trace the emergence of two populations of AE. The first one is characterized by a waveform with a harsh onset, while the second one exhibits a gradual amplitude rise and a tremor-like waveform. During a regular stick-slip the statistical properties of the first population remains intact. The second one is very sensitive to alterations of stress conditions, and its scaling parameters correlate with the change of mechanical characteristics of the fault. Probably, AE populations were identified corresponding to two gouge-filled fault subsystems – a load-bearing granular network and an ensemble of relatively unloaded grains in the granular layer. The detected regularities point to a compound self-organization processes in fault zones and suggest that the final stage of earthquake preparation can be revealed in analyzing the scaling characteristics of seismic-acoustic data.

Presented are the results of laboratory experiments on investigating manifestations of acoustic emission (AE) of a gouge-filled fault during stick-slip. The laboratory experiments were held at the slider-model setup, when a granite block slides along a rough granite base under normal and shear loads. In the course of experiments we altered the structure of the two-component filler of the fault and focused on variations of the AE parameters. The kinematic parameters of fault slip events in all the realizations remained approximately the same. The eff ect of gouge structure on the statistics of AE has been revealed. An alteration of proportion of quartz sand / glass beads in the filler of the fault was accompanied by an alteration of the b-value of frequency-energy distribution from 0.53 to 0.85, and the p-value of Omori law from 1.00 to 2.06. Also, it has been demonstrated that the nucleation of a slip event is accompanied by an alteration of the mechanism of AE generation – at the initial stage the 'tensile crack' signals prevailed, while at the final stage – the 'shear crack' signals did. The alteration of AE genesis manifested vividly in a corresponding alteration of the emitted waveforms for all the realizations.

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The spectrum of fault slip modes spans a continuum from fast ruptures to slow slip events. The nucleation of a certain slip mode is governed by the frictional heterogeneity of fault interface and the rheological fault stiffness. There is a mounting evidence that a single fault can host multiple slip modes. In laboratory experiments we study acoustic emission (AE) initiated by a sliding frictional fault and focus our attention on gouge-filled faults hosting multiple slip modes. Deformation experiments were performed on a slider model setup with a precise control of mechanical parameters and monitoring the acoustic signal in the frequency range of 20–80 kHz. We have shown that the cumulative AE energy linearly depends on block displacement. Besides that, there is a high inverse correlation (-0.94) between fault friction and b-value of frequency-amplitude distribution of AE in the performed experiments. Provided that velocity weakening is specific for the fault interface, the self-organization of a gouge-filled fault at the micro scale is the key parameter that controls the frictional behavior of fault hosting multiple slip modes. Resting on a quantitative categorization of AE waveforms, two AE subpopulations have been distinguished. One of them manifests as AEs with harsh onsets. The second one exhibits a gradual amplitude rise and tremor-like waveforms. A longer duration of the intergrain rupture is specific for the second AE subpopulation. During a laboratory seismic cycle, the first AE subpopulation retains parameters, while the second one exhibits a pronounced cyclic recurrence of b-value. The b-value of the second subpopulation gradually decreases before slip events and recovers after them. Two AE subpopulations, probably, point to the coexistence of two dynamic subsystems. The revealed precursory changes of AE subpopulations are common for the entire spectrum of slip modes. We speculate on the unity of underlying mechanisms of different slip modes.

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