[S-SS29] Fault Rheology and Earthquake Dynamics

[SSS29-P15] Thermal and pressure effect on frictional property of smectite: application to the plate boundary earthquakes of Nankai

*Tomoyo MIZUTANI¹, Ken-ichi HIRAUCHI¹, Weiren LIN², Michiyo SAWAI³ (1.Department of Geosciences, Graduate School of Science, Shizuoka University, 2.Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 3.Department of Earthsciences,Graduate School of Science,Hiroshima University)

Keywords:subduction thrust fault, decollement, aseismogenic zone, smectite, laboratory experiment, velocity dependence of friction

Along subduction thrust faults, the transformation from smectite to illite at 100-150℃ plays a key role to define the updip limit of the seismogenic zone. If this hypothesis is correct, it is required that smectite exhibits velocity strengthening behavior at in-situ effective normal stress (σ^eff) and ~100-150℃. Here we report results of friction experiments on gouges of pure Na-montmorillonite at σ^eff of 10-70 MPa, a pore fluid pressure of 10 MPa, at temperatures of 25-150℃, and sliding velocities of 0.03-3 μm/s, using an oil-medium triaxial testing machine. We found that the coefficient of friction (μ) ranges from 0.056 to 0.120. At temperatures of 20 to 60℃, μ systematically decreased with increasing σ^eff, while at 90-120℃, it increased with increasing σ^eff. With increasing σ^eff, the velocity dependence of friction (a-b) became negative at 25-90℃ and positive at 120℃. Therefore, we suggest that smectite friction promotes stable slip along the decollement at the shallow Nankai subduction zone.