CRITICAL-P

The localization of crustal deformation introduces an important aspect in assessing earthquake generation. This is potentially linked to the presence of a critical point at failure, yet this link remains poorly understood. Here, we present laboratory observations of the evolving strain field in triaxially compressed sandstone, using fiber optic sensing (FOS) and acoustic emission (AE) data sets to measure localized strain and deformation with high spatial and temporal resolution. The project aims at analyzing where in the deformation records a phase transition between the intact and failed phase in the rock exists. This process may or may not exists and can be significantly affected by the presence of fluid or temperature. However, being able to identify if it occurs offers insight into illusive physics-based predictive model that could provide constraints for forecasting models of earthquakes under complex tectonic conditions.