Articles | Volume 19, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-10447-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-10447-2026
Development and technical paper
 | 
04 Nov 2026
Development and technical paper |  | 04 Nov 2026

Hybrid implicit–explicit XFEM simulation of injection-induced seismicity: resolving multi-scale rupture nucleation and dynamics

Mohammad Sabah, Mauro Cacace, Inga Berre, Iman R. Kivi, and Hannes Hofmann

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Cited articles

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Short summary

Injecting fluids underground for energy projects can trigger earthquakes. Predicting these events is difficult because underground pressure changes slowly, while faults can move in a fraction of a second. We developed a computer method that switches between two ways of calculating these processes. In our test, it reduced computing time by 62 % while giving similar estimates of earthquake size and total fault movement. Differences in the fastest movements show that further testing is needed.

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