Unjamming dynamics: the micromechanics of a seismic fault model

Abstract

The unjamming transition of granular systems is investigated in a seismic fault model via three dimensional Molecular Dynamics simulations. A two--time force--force correlation function, and a susceptibility related to the system response to pressure changes, allow to characterize the stick--slip dynamics, consisting in large slips and microslips leading to creep motion. The correlation function unveils the micromechanical changes occurring both during microslips and slips. The susceptibility encodes the magnitude of the incoming microslip.