Fracture energy and the variation of gouge and surface roughness during frictional sliding of rocks

Abstract

Fracture energy was estimated on the basis of experimental results with respect to both the amount and the particle size distribution of the gouges which were developed during frictional slidings. The result shows that the fracture energy occupies only 0.01—0.1 % in the total energy released by the testing machine: The heat energy due to friction and the elastic wave energy are the main two forms in the distribution process. Nevertheless the gouge and the roughness of the sliding surface play an important role in the distribution process of energy. The energy budget during sliding depends upon the existence of gouge. In addition, gouge and surface roughness reflect the history of sliding or the sliding behaviour. It is useful to study the variation of gouge and surface roughness in experiments for investigating the earthquake source mechanism. © 1986, The Seismological Society of Japan, The Volcanological Society of Japan, The Geodetic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.