Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing
Abstract Gradual localization of deformation preceding catastrophic failure can produce precursory signals associated with a phase transition that may be present prior to earthquakes. However, due to the unclear origin of these precursors and the complexity of the environmental conditions, detecting...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115010 |
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| _version_ | 1850075358514118656 |
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| author | Hao Chen Paul Antony Selvadurai Tom deGeus Antonio Felipe Salazar Vásquez Patrick Bianchi Sofia Michail Markus Rast Claudio Madonna Stefan Wiemer |
| author_facet | Hao Chen Paul Antony Selvadurai Tom deGeus Antonio Felipe Salazar Vásquez Patrick Bianchi Sofia Michail Markus Rast Claudio Madonna Stefan Wiemer |
| author_sort | Hao Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gradual localization of deformation preceding catastrophic failure can produce precursory signals associated with a phase transition that may be present prior to earthquakes. However, due to the unclear origin of these precursors and the complexity of the environmental conditions, detecting such preparatory signals remains challenging. Here we present the spatio‐temporal evolution of surface strain measured using fiber‐optic sensing during triaxial experiments in wet and dry conditions. We identify a power‐law distribution of strain increments where the largest magnitude diverges toward failure. This suggests a critical phase transition with the emergence of failure precursors. However, criticality is only observed in dry conditions and disappears with pressurized pore fluids, where the largest strain increment accelerates exponentially, consistent with a first‐order transition. Our results highlight that progressive damage features criticality for failure prediction, but elevated fluid pressures may shift this behavior to abrupt rupture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1fc2d23e4f9b43fea57b6ee0d6804141 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-1fc2d23e4f9b43fea57b6ee0d68041412025-08-20T02:46:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015214n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115010Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain SensingHao Chen0Paul Antony Selvadurai1Tom deGeus2Antonio Felipe Salazar Vásquez3Patrick Bianchi4Sofia Michail5Markus Rast6Claudio Madonna7Stefan Wiemer8Swiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandSwiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne SwitzerlandSwiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandSwiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandSwiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandStructural Geology and Tectonics Group, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geological Institute ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandSwiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandAbstract Gradual localization of deformation preceding catastrophic failure can produce precursory signals associated with a phase transition that may be present prior to earthquakes. However, due to the unclear origin of these precursors and the complexity of the environmental conditions, detecting such preparatory signals remains challenging. Here we present the spatio‐temporal evolution of surface strain measured using fiber‐optic sensing during triaxial experiments in wet and dry conditions. We identify a power‐law distribution of strain increments where the largest magnitude diverges toward failure. This suggests a critical phase transition with the emergence of failure precursors. However, criticality is only observed in dry conditions and disappears with pressurized pore fluids, where the largest strain increment accelerates exponentially, consistent with a first‐order transition. Our results highlight that progressive damage features criticality for failure prediction, but elevated fluid pressures may shift this behavior to abrupt rupture.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115010 |
| spellingShingle | Hao Chen Paul Antony Selvadurai Tom deGeus Antonio Felipe Salazar Vásquez Patrick Bianchi Sofia Michail Markus Rast Claudio Madonna Stefan Wiemer Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing Geophysical Research Letters |
| title | Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing |
| title_full | Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing |
| title_short | Investigating Criticality in Rock Failure Using Fiber‐Optic Strain Sensing |
| title_sort | investigating criticality in rock failure using fiber optic strain sensing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115010 |
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