b-value and fractal dimension variations in Iran

作者：Alireza Firoozfar,Bahman Ansari

摘要：Iran sits on a region with a high intrinsic level of seismic activity due to its tectonic setting.Through statistical examination of the earthquakes listed in the catalogue from International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology(IIEES),this research attempted to calculate some seismicity factors and find correlation between them.A preliminary analysis indicated changes in theb-value of the Gutenberg-Richter relationship over the study region.Thus,the study area was divided into five zones(Alborz,Zagros,Azerbaijan,Central and East)andb-value was computed for each zone.Considering faulting mechanism styles and theb-values in the region,it was found that the lowestb-values belong to the thrust events and strike-slip faulting earthquakes have intermediate values.These findings support previous studies.Furthermore,results ofb-value calculation were used for the estimation of accumulated differential stresses(σ1–σ2)over each zone.Overall,theb-value for Iran is averagely low which signifies the high stress tectonic regime in this region.Also,by having calculated fractal dimension(D)in each zone,a correlation obtained showing that in Iran region,theb-value correlates to fractal dimension byD=4.2b–2 relation which does not support Aki's(1981)speculation ofD=3b/c.

發文機構：Department of Civil Engineering

關鍵詞：stressfaultingstyleIranplateauB-VALUEfractaldi-mension

分類號： P31[天文地球—固體地球物理學]