Starting earthquakes under horizontal action

Abstract

The vector case of the static problem for semi-infinite lithospheric plates with rectilinear boundaries parallel to each other in two states is considered. In the first case, the distance between the plate ends is different from zero; in the second case, it is zero although the plates do not interact with each other. It is assumed that the horizontal actions on the plates (which, as is well known, move very slowly) are so strong that the vertical components of contact stresses can be neglected. In this work, it is shown that, even in this case, contact stresses at the edges of approaching plates acquire singular concentrations capable of leading to starting earthquakes. It has been shown that the theoretical calculation of the consequences of such earthquakes on the Earth’s surface yields a coincidence with their real consequences.