Delphine Fitzenz

Over the past years, I have developed and used a set of time-forward physics-based models of fluid-saturated fault systems as a tool to investigate the dominant physical and chemical processes at work in the earthquake process. Read about my PhD thesis.

My research currently focuses upon how the rheological, poroelastic, hydraulic, cohesive, and frictional properties of the fault zones evolve with time in response to physical and chemical processes happening during the interseismic period, and how this influences the fault behavior (seismic/aseismic, overpressured/hydrostatic). This includes 1) building physics-based self-consistent conceptual models derived from  field studies and lab experiments on natural fault rocks or synthetic analog materials; 2) developing numerical models of the interseismic period and coupling them to quasi-static full-cycle fault models to better constrain conditions and processes at the start of dynamic rupture.

Once a model (or set of models) was derived for these properties, it (they) will be applied to the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield, where the soon to be performed drilling through the fault at depth will provide a rare opportunity to test model predictions. The modeling will be modular so as to be able to switch processes on and off, allowing for rigourous comparisons of either the processes considered or the numerical techniques used. See my favorite approach.

In addition, I study with Fred Pollitz the effects of the post-seismic response of a visco-elastic lower crust on the loading rates of faults and fault interaction in the framework of full-cycle quasi-static fault interaction models. 

My work was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation from 08/2002 to 08/2003.