Fig. 2.From: How did the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake start and grow? The role of a conditionally stable areaMechanical system of springs and blocks used in this study. Three blocks (representing the three regions of the fault of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake) are connected to each other by springs, and loaded by slip deficits from the plate convergence, 10 [cm/year]. The rate and state friction law is applied to friction between the blocks and the background.Back to article page