The Haiti earthquake 2010: 3D

dynamic rupture simulation across

complex faults system

Prepared by: Roby Douilly

PhD student
Purdue University
 Objectives

 Use the aftershock study from Douilly et al., 2013 to define the fault
planes that will be used in the simulation.

 Simulate a dynamic rupture that generates displacements at the

surface that are consistent with the surface observations (InSar, GPS).

 Explain the rupture propagation.

 Use the rupture to generate strong ground motion record at several

sites.
 Dip: 45°

Dip: 71°

Dip: 65°

Douilly et al., 2013

Douilly et al., 2013
Douilly et al., 2013
Fault Geometry
Finite Element Model via Cubit

176x130x60 km3
 Regional Stress field

Aagaard et al., 2001

µd * σ n < τ 0 < µs * σ n
Preliminary Results
This study:

Moment: 4.9 e+19 N.m-1

Mw: 7.1

Calais et al., 2010

Moment: 5.04 e+19 N.m-1

Mw: 7.1
 Preliminary Findings
 Since we assumed that the tractions on a fault are due to the stress
orientation of its appropriate block, therefore a stress orientation of 60-65
(resp. 20) degrees allows the appropriate tractions on the Léogâne fault and
the Enriquillo fault (resp. Trois Baies).

 A shift to the north of the western segment of the Léogâne fault from
Symithe et al., 2013 allows a better fit to the InSAR and coseismic GPS
displacement.

 The rupture seems to propagate from the eastern to the western segment
of the Léogâne fault but not on the Enriquillo fault nor the Trois Baies fault.

 The simulation shows a significant increase of stresses on the Trois Baies

fault which might explain the sudden cluster of aftershocks on this fault.

 The result from the ground displacement is in good agreement with the
InSAR and the coseismic GPS displacement.
 NEXT STEPS

DISCRETIZE THE FAULT PLANES INTO SUBFAULTS

COMPUTE GREEN FUNCTIONS BETWEEN EACH SUBFAULT AND

RECEIVER PAIR

CONVOLVE THE GREEN FUNCTIONS WITH A SOURCE TME

FUNCTIONS (d = G*m)

GENERATE GROUND MOTION AT SEVERAL SITES