Real-scale DEM simulations on the fault evolution process observed in sandbox experiments

The study of fault structures and stress states in accretionary prisms is important to elucidate the building and releasing of seismic energy as they control the generation of great earthquakes and tsunami. In this paper, we present the evolution process of three-dimensional fault structures performed in sandbox simulations using a discrete element method (DEM). To realize a real-scale sandbox simulation, we developed state-of-the-art techniques in high performance parallel computing for the DEM and performed the world’s largest DEM simulation using up to 1.9 billion particles with a similar grain size as real sand to identify the three-dimensional fault structure. The DEM simulations reproduced the undulation of fault structures, similar to those commonly found in nature. In addition, the characteristic grain motion was observed near the frontal fault before the commencement of the uplift event of the sand bed, which could be a precursor of tectonic events behind accretionary prism formation.