Omori law for sliding of blocks on inclined rough surfaces

Long sequences of slidings of solid blocks on an inclined rough surface sub jected to small controlled perturbations are examined and scaling relations are found for the time distribution of slidings between pairs of large eve nts as well as after and before the largest events. These scaling laws are similar to the Omori law in seismology but the scaling exponents observed a re different. Log-periodicity correction to the Omori scaling is also found . It is shown that the scaling behaviors are dependent on the angle that th e incline forms with the horizontal. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.