| Abstract: | This study examines slip recurrence patterns in a two-block spring-slider model with rate- and state-dependent friction. Both weak and strong heterogeneities are considered with different settings of coupling stiffness. The results show that the recurrence pattern of slips strongly depends on the degree of coupling between the two blocks. With strong coupling between the two blocks (e.g., kc/ki max >~1), the slip pattern of the system is simple and characterized by periodical stick-slips, with the two blocks slipping together. With strong heterogeneity in friction strength, period-2 motion is found for moderate coupling stiffness (kc/ki max=0.4) between the two blocks. More complicated patterns are found with weak coupling stiffness (kc/ki max=0.2) and strong heterogeneity. With strong heterogeneity, very weak coupling leads to chaotic slip patterns. With coupling stiffness kc=5 ki max and strong heterogeneity, chaotic slip patterns are not found, in contrast with the results by Huang and Turcotte who employed the classical static/kinetic friction law. |
