Physical modelling of earthquake generation cycles at transcurrent plate boundaries

We have constructed a 3-D physical model of earthquake generation cycles at transcurrent plate boundaries by incorporating the slip- and time-dependent fault constitutive law into the quasi-static tectonic loading model. With this model we have numerically simulated the entire process of earthquake gen-eration and revealed the evolution of fault constitutive properties during a complete earthquake cycle. In this model the fault strength decreases with fault slip and increases with stationary contact time. After the arrest of dynamic rupture, the restoration of the peak strength σp proceeds rapidly. On the other hand, the restoration of the critical weakening displacement Dc proceeds gradually with time through the interseismic period. These re-sults give a theoretical explanation for observational facts of the event-scale dependence of Dc