Effective Bulk Rheology of a Two-Phase Subduction Shear Zone: Insights From Micromechanics-Based Modeling and Implications for Subduction Interface Slow Slip Events

Abstract

Subduction interfaces exhibit various slip styles, including slow slip events (SSEs). We use a micromechanics-based approach to calculate the effective rheology of a shear zone containing ellipsoidal amphibolite clasts deforming by dislocation creep within an interconnected linear-viscous phyllosilicate-dominated matrix. Frictional failure occurs if local stress exceeds Mohr-Coulomb yield strength. At moderate fluid overpressure, mixed-frictional-viscous behavior emerges at (Formula presented.) 350–560 (Formula presented.) C, consistent with a broad zone of mixed fault slip behavior without requiring extreme fluid overpressures. Increasing stress in this transition zone promotes local frictional failure and raises bulk strain rate. If, however, the bulk strain rate increases by more than one order of magnitude, system-wide frictional sliding becomes preferable. This strain rate increase is insufficient to explain the slip rates observed in geophysically detectable SSEs. Therefore, viscous matrix flow as modeled here cannot explain SSEs without either invoking dynamic weakening within a frictional-viscous flow or a mechanism switch to dominantly frictional sliding.