Dynamic rupture processes of inland earthquakes in Japan weak and strong asperities

Abstract

Reconstruction of dynamic rupture process of four large earthquakes in Japan shows two types of high stress drop region on the fault planes, i.e., high stress drop part with low strength excess, and that with high strength excess, where the strength excess is the difference between strength and applied initial stress. Here, we call the first type of the above high stress drop part “weak asperity” or “asperity with low strength” and the second one “strong asperity” or “asperity with high strength”.