These PDF files contain the specifications for the standard earthquake simulator input and output files, which were developed for the SCEC Earthquake Simulator Comparison Project. Version 0.4 was developed for natural fault systems. Version 0.5 updates the specification to also support “simple” fault systems like planar vertical faults.
Container format specification 0.4 [PDF; 508 KB]. This document describes the file structure that is common to all our standard files.
Input geometry file specification 0.5 [PDF; 513 KB]. The geometry file, which is a simulator input, contains the fault geometry, average slip rates, and rake angles. Locations in space are specified using either latitude, longitude, and depth (for natural fault systems), or else x, y, and z coordinates (for "simple" fault systems). Locations on the fault surface are specified using depth (or z) and distance-along-strike.
Input friction file specification 0.4 [PDF; 461 KB]. The friction file, which is a simulator input, contains the elastic parameters, fault strength, and fault friction parameters.
Input condition file specification 0.4 [PDF; 450 KB]. The condition file, which is a simulator input, contains the initial stress conditions and (for simulators that use rate-state friction) the initial friction state variable.
Input station file specification 0.5 [PDF; 456 KB]. The station file, which is a simulator input, contains the locations of observation stations.
Output event file specification 0.4 [PDF; 485 KB]. The event file, which is a simulator output, contains a list of events. Each event is described by its time, location, magnitude, rupture extent, rupture area, mean slip, stress change, and an optional map of the slip distribution on the fault surface. Event descriptions are given entirely in terms of depth (or z) and distance-along-strike, and are independent of the discretization used by a particular simulator.
Download: Zip archive of all 6 PDFs [EQ_Simulator_File_Format_Specs.zip; 2.7 MB]
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