Shear heating in granular layers

Heat-flow measurements imply that the San Andreas Fault operates at lower s hear stresses than generally predicted from laboratory friction data. This suggests that a dramatic weakening effect or reduced heat production occur during dynamic slip. Numerical studies intimate that grain rolling or local ization may cause weakening or reduced heating, however laboratory evidence for these effects are sparse. We directly measure frictional resistance (m u), shear heating and microstructural evolution with accumulated strain in layers of quartz powder sheared at a range of effective stresses (sigma (n) = 5-70 MPa) and sliding velocities (V = 0.01-10 mm/s). Tests conducted at sigma (n) greater than or equal to 25 MPa show strong evidence for shear lo calization due to intense grain fracture. In contrast, tests conducted at l ow effective stress (sigma (n) = 5 MPa) show no preferential fabric develop ment and minimal grain fracture hence we conclude that non-destructive proc esses such as grain rolling/sliding, distributed throughout the layer, domi nate deformation. Temperature measured close to the fault increases systema tically with sigma (n) and V, consistent with a one-dimensional heat-flow s olution for frictional heating ill a finite width layer. Mechanical results indicate stable sliding (mu similar to 0.6) for all tests, irrespective of deformation regime, and show no evidence for reduced frictional resistance at rapid slip or high effective stresses. Our measurements verify that the heat production equation (q = mu sigma V-n) holds regardless of localizati on state or fracture regime. Thus, for quasistatic velocities (V less than or equal to 10 mm/s) and effective stresses relevant to earthquake rupture, neither grain rolling/sliding or shear localization appear to be a viable mechanism for the dramatic weakening or reduced heating required to explain the heat flow paradox.