Quasi-solitary multiscale cross-diffusion waves as a precursor to Earth instabilities

We propose a mesoscopic thermodynamics approach for coupling multiphysics processes across scales in porous or multiphase media. In this multiscale reaction-diffusion formalism interactions of discrete phenomena at the local scale are seen as being subject to a larger scale Thermo-Hydro-Mechano-Chemical (THMC) thermodynamic force. When local interactions are incompatible with the large-scale thermodynamic stress field incompatibilities can arise which trigger accelerations resulting in meso-scale generalized thermodynamic fluxes of another (THMC) kind. The classical acoustic tensor localization criterion in plasticity theory is here understood as a standing wave solution of such acceleration waves. These classical zero-speed acceleration wave solutions are solitary waves, also known as solitons, and are interpreted in the reaction-diffusion formalism as self-diffusion dominated by harvesting all available energy from the cross-diffusional tails.

The more general case of non-zero traveling wave speed solutions is related to the cross-diffusion coefficients between different macro- and meso-scale thermodynamic THMC forces and fluxes. These cross-diffusion terms in the 4 x 4 THMC diffusion matrix are shown to lead to multiple diffusional P- and S-wave equations as THMC coupled, time-resolved dynamic solutions of the equation of motion. We show that the off-diagonal cross-diffusivities can give rise to a new class of waves also known as cross-diffusion waves or quasi-solitons. Their unique property is that for critical conditions cross-diffusion waves can funnel wave energy into a soliton wave focus.

Mathematically these solutions can be compared to events in ocean waves and optical fibers known as 'rogue waves' or 'high energy pulses of light' in lasers. In the context of hydromechanical coupling, a rogue wave would appear as a sudden fluid pressure spike on the future fault plane. This hydromechanically coupled fluid pressure P-wave instability is here interpreted as a trigger for the S-wave seismic moment release of a double couple dominated earthquake event. The proposed multiscale cascade of wave energy may apply to many other material instabilities.