Faculty
Dr. Shiqing Xu received B.S. in Geophysics, and in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, from Peking University in 2007. Then, he moved to the US and obtained Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, from the University of Southern California in 2013. After that, Dr. Xu joined the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience in Japan, as a Research Fellow. Starting from September 2019, Dr. Xu became an Assistant Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. Dr. Xu is interested in a wide range of earthquake problems, including earthquake dynamics and faulting, evolution of fault zones, rock friction experiments, and earthquake physics. As a first author or co-author, Dr. Xu so far has published 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature Geoscience, Nature, and Nature Communications. Dr. Xu has served as the primary session conveners twice for the AGU fall meeting. As the chief guest editor, Dr. Xu has organized a special issue “Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation” in Tectonophysics. As referee, Dr. Xu has helped to review journal articles and NSF proposals (US) for multiple times.
Education
2007 – 2013: Ph.D., University of Southern California (USA), Department of Earth Sciences, Advisor: Yehuda Ben-Zion
2003 – 2007: B.S., Peking University, School of Earth and Space Sciences
B.S. Double Major (Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), Peking University, School of Mathematical Sciences
Working Experience
2019 – present: Assistant Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology, Department of Earth and Space Sciences
2013 – 2019: Research Fellow, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (Japan), Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Prevention Research Department, Advisor: Eiichi Fukuyama
Teaching Experience
2007 – 2013: Teaching Assistant, University of Southern California (USA), Department of Earth Sciences
Fellowships and Honors
2023: AGU’s Outstanding Reviewers (FY 2022)
2021: AGU’s Outstanding Reviewers (FY 2020)
2020: AGU’s Outstanding Reviewers (FY 2019)
2019: AGU’s Outstanding Reviewers (FY 2018)
2019: National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience Achievement Award (FY 2018)
2018: Young Scientist Award of the Seismological Society of Japan (FY 2017)
2006: Chinese Academy of Science Scholarship in Geophysics, 2nd Prize
2004: Award for Study Excellence, Peking University
2003: National Scholarship
Professional Society Services
Editor: Geophysical Journal International (GJI) (2023 – present)
Guest Editor: Tectonophysics (2017 – 2018)
Reviewer: Nature Geoscience; Nature Communications; Science Advances; AGU Geophysical Monograph Series; JGR-Solid Earth; GRL; Gcubed; EPSL; Tectonophysics; JSG; BSSA; TSR; SRL; EPS; GJI; PAGEOPH etc.
Research
? Earthquake Rupture: Theoretical Model and Numerical Simulation
? Damage Mechanics and Fracture Mechanics
? Rock Friction Experiments
? Evolution of Fault Zones
? Regular and Slow Earthquakes
? Subduction Zone Earthquakes
? Earthquake Physics
Submitted
[S7] Lu, R., Y. Gao, Y. Hu, X. Lai, H. Li, J. Lu, L. Shao, P. Wang, W. Wang, W. Wang, C. Xia, H. Xu, R. Xu, S. Xu, H. Yue, L. Zhao, X. Zheng, E. Zhou, and Y. Zou, Quakes: from the Earth to Stars, submitted to Scientia Sinica Physica, Mechanica & Astronomica, on December 5, 2023.
[S6] Wan, Z., R. Dong, D. Wang, S. Xu, Z. Wang, and Q. Wang, Along-strike Variation of Rupture Characteristics and Aftershock Patterns of the 2023 Mw 7.8 Türkiye Earthquake Controlled by Fault Structure, submitted to Seismological Research Letters, on November 14, 2023.
[S5] Wang, Q., Y. Zhang, L. Wang, P. Yu, S. Guerin-Marthe, X. Peng, S. Xu, P. Martínez-Garzón, and M. Bohnhoff, Evolution of shear rupture along a prescribed interface using the Discontinuous Deformation Analysis method, submitted to Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, on August 29, 2023.
[S4] Wang, L., S. Xu, Y. Zhuo, P. Liu, and S. Ma, Unraveling the roles of fault asperities over earthquake cycles, submitted to Earth and Planetary Science Letters, in revision.
[S3] Xu, S., Does stress drop positively or negatively correlate with rupture speed?, submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, on April 16, 2023. Preprint link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.08016
[S2] Liu-Zeng, J., Z. Liu, X. Liu, C. Milliner, J.-P. Avouac, A. Rodriguez Padilla, S. Xu, W. Yao, Y. Klinger, L. Han, Y. Shao, X. Yan, S. Aati, and Z. Shao, Multifault rupture of the 2021 Mw7.4 Maduo (China) earthquake reveals fault growth toward a stress-favored orientation, submitted on February 22, 2023.
[S1] Ji, Y., A. R. Niemeijer, D. H. Baden, F. Yamashita, S. Xu, L. B. Hunfeld, R. P. J. Pijnenburg, E. Fukuyama, and C. J. Spiers, Friction law for earthquake nucleation: size doesn’t matter, submitted on February 2, 2022, in review.
[S0] Fukuyama, E., S. Xu, and F. Yamashita, Supersonic propagation of slow slip rupture during rock friction experiments, submitted on 17 March, 2020.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
[26] Ding, X., J. Xie, and S. Xu (2024), Dynamic activation of near-orthogonal conjugate faults during earthquakes: Insights from the 2023 Tu?rkiye Mw 7.6 earthquake, Chinese Science Bulletin, doi:10.1360/TB-2023-0894.
[25] Ding, X., S. Xu, Y. Xie, M. van den Ende, J. Premus, and J.-P. Ampuero (2023), The sharp turn: Backward rupture branching during the 2023 Mw 7.8 Kahramanmara? (Türkiye) earthquake, Seismica, 2(3), doi:10.26443/seismica.v2i3.1083. Preprint link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.06051
[24] Cheng, C., D. Wang, Q. Yao, L. Fang, S. Xu, Z. Huang, T. Liu, Z. Wang, and X. Huang (2023), The 2021 Mw 7.3 Madoi, China earthquake: Transient supershear ruptures on a presumed immature strike-slip fault, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Special Issue "100-Year Anniversary of the Great 1920 Haiyuan Earthquake: What Have We Learned on Large Continental Earthquakes and Faults?", 128, e2022JB024641, doi:10.1029/2022JB024641.
[23] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, F. Yamashita, H. Kawakata, K. Mizoguchi, and S. Takizawa (2023), Fault strength and rupture process controlled by fault surface topography, Nature Geoscience, 16, 94–100, doi:10.1038/s41561-022-01093-z.
[22] Yamashita, F., E. Fukuyama, and S. Xu (2022), Foreshock activity promoted by locally elevated loading rate on a 4-meter-long laboratory fault, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(3), e2021JB023336, doi:10.1029/2021JB023336.
[21] Yoshida, K., N. Uchida, H. Kubo, R. Takagi, and S. Xu (2022), Prevalence of updip rupture propagation in interplate earthquakes along the Japan Trench, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 578, 117306, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117306.
[20] Yamashita, F., E. Fukuyama, S. Xu, H. Kawakata, K. Mizoguchi, and S. Takizawa (2021), Two end-member earthquake preparations illuminated by foreshock activity on a meter-scale laboratory fault, Nature Communications, 12, 4302, doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24625-4.
[19] Xu, S. (2020), Recognizing fracture pattern signatures contributed by seismic loadings, Interpretation, Special Issue "Seismic interpretation of fractures in deep subsurface", 8(4), SP95–SP108, doi:10.1190/int-2020-0033.1. Preprint link: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/308/
[18] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, F. Yamashita, and S. Takizawa (2019), Evolution of Fault-Interface Rayleigh Wave speed over simulated earthquake cycles in the lab: Observations, interpretations, and implications, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 524, 115720, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115720.
[17] Xu, S. (2019), Probing earthquake physics using multidisciplinary approaches, Zisin, 72(2), 17–34, doi:10.4294/zisin.2018-12.
[16] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, and F. Yamashita (2019), Robust estimation of rupture properties at propagating front of laboratory earthquakes, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124(1), 766–787, doi:10.1029/2018JB016797.
[15] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, A. Sagy, and M.-L. Doan (2018), Preface: Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation, Tectonophysics, Special Issue "Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation", 733, 1–3, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2018.04.013.
[14] Yamashita, F., E. Fukuyama, S. Xu, K. Mizoguchi, H. Kawakata, and S. Takizawa (2018), Rupture preparation process controlled by surface roughness on meter-scale laboratory fault, Tectonophysics, Special Issue "Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation", 733, 193–208, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2018.01.034.
[13] Fukuyama, E., K. Tsuchida, H. Kawakata, F. Yamashita, K. Mizoguchi, and S. Xu (2018), Spatiotemporal complexity of 2-D rupture nucleation process observed by direct monitoring during large-scale biaxial rock friction experiments, Tectonophysics, Special Issue "Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation", 733, 182–192, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2017.12.023.
[12] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, F. Yamashita, K. Mizoguchi, S. Takizawa, and H. Kawakata (2018), Strain rate effect on fault slip and rupture evolution: Insight from meter-scale rock friction experiments, Tectonophysics, Special Issue "Physics of Earthquake Rupture Propagation", 733, 209-231, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2017.11.039.
[11] Aldam, M., S. Xu, E.A. Brener, Y. Ben-Zion, and E. Bouchbinder (2018), Non-monotonicity of the frictional bimaterial effect, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 122(10), 8270–8284, doi:10.1002/2017JB014665.
[10] Xu, S., and Y. Ben-Zion (2017), Theoretical constraints on dynamic pulverization of fault zone rocks, Geophysical Journal International, 209(1), 282–296, doi:10.1093/gji/ggx033.
[9] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, H. Yue, and J.-P. Ampuero (2016), Simple crack models explain deformation induced by subduction zone megathrust earthquakes, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 106(5), 2275–2289, doi:10.1785/0120160079.
[8] Fukuyama, E., S. Xu, F. Yamashita, and K. Mizoguchi (2016), Cohesive zone length of metagabbro at supershear rupture velocity, Journal of Seismology, Special Issue "Imaging Earthquakes and Earth Structure Through Waves" Honoring Professor Raul Madariaga, 20(4), 1207–1215, doi:10.1007/s10950-016-9588-2.
[7] Yamashita, F., E. Fukuyama, K. Mizoguchi, S. Takizawa, S. Xu, and H. Kawakata (2015), Scale dependence of rock friction at high work rate, Nature, 528, 254–257, doi:10.1038/nature16138.
[6] Xu, S., E. Fukuyama, Y. Ben-Zion, and J.-P. Ampuero (2015), Dynamic rupture activation of backthrust fault branching, Tectonophysics, 644–645, 161–183, doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2015.01.011.
[5] Xu, S., Y. Ben-Zion, J.-P. Ampuero, and V. Lyakhovsky (2015), Dynamic ruptures on a frictional interface with off-fault brittle damage: Feedback mechanisms and effects on slip and near-fault motion, Pure and Applied Geophysics, 172, 1243–1267, doi: 10.1007/s00024-014-0923-7.
[4] Xu, S., and Y. Ben-Zion (2013), Numerical and theoretical analyses of in-plane dynamic rupture on a frictional interface and off-fault yielding patterns at different scales, Geophysical Journal International, 193, 304–320, doi: 10.1093/gji/ggs105.
[3] Xu, S., Y. Ben-Zion, and J.-P. Ampuero (2012b), Properties of inelastic yielding zones generated by in-plane dynamic ruptures: II. Detailed parameter-space study, Geophysical Journal International, 191, 1343–1360, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2012.05685.x.
[2] Xu, S., Y. Ben-Zion, and J.-P. Ampuero (2012a), Properties of inelastic yielding zones generated by in-plane dynamic ruptures: I. Model description and basic results, Geophysical Journal International, 191, 1325-1342, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2012.05679.x.
[1] Ben-Zion, Y., T. Rockwell, Z. Shi, and S. Xu (2012), Reversed-polarity secondary deformation structures near fault stepovers, Journal of Applied Mechanics, Special Issue Honoring Professor James R. Rice, 79(3), 031025, doi:10.1115/1.4006154.