Stress and Strain Modelling

Numerical simulations of geophysical models using data of the in-situ stress- and strain-state lead to a better understanding of the deformation and fracture processes of the earth crust. The resulting qualitative and quantitative predictions of the crustal failure are essential contributions to estimate the potential seismic hazard of an area.
Continuum-mechanical program codes (FEM - Finite Element Methode) as well as the Distinct Element Method (DEM) treating problems of discontinua are used for the numerical simulations.  

	Synthetic earthquake sequences are generated for different fault structures. The characteristics of these sequences, such as magnitude frequencies, fore- and aftershock distributions and inter-event time periods analysed.
	Thermo-mechanical modelling of a lithosphere deformation with a non-linear rheology in a geological time scale (continent-continent collision of the Pamir-HinduKush region).
	Simulations using the distinct element method were carried out for the Block-Rotation in the area of the San-Andreas fault. The correlations between the regional stress state and the rotation process were studied.
	The rupture process of the 1992 Suusamyr earthquake in the Tien Shan and the accompanied crustal deformation were simulated and the crustal displacements were compared with the GPS-data (CATS-Project).
	Up to date compilation and interpretation of the maximal horizontal compressive crustal stress and earthquake epicentres of the IGCP project "Neogeodynamica Baltica".