STANDARD

 RUPTURE  FORMAT  
Version  2.0  
 
Robert  Graves  
12/02/2014  
 
Introduction  
 
The  Standard  Rupture  Format  (SRF)  is  an  ASCII  based  file  format  that  provides  a  complete  
kinematic  description  for  earthquake  ruptures.  
 
The  general  fault  surface  is  represented  by  a  distribution  of  point  sources  (subfaults).    Each  
point  source  description  contains  all  the  necessary  kinematic  information  to  compute  the  
contribution  of  that  subfault  to  the  total  response  of  the  fault  rupture.    In  principle,  there  is  
no  inherent  restriction  on  the  geometry  of  the  fault  surface  or  on  the  spacing  and  
distribution  of  the  point  sources  used  to  describe  the  fault  surface.    However,  it  is  
recognized  that  most  current  methods  used  to  develop  or  model  fault  ruptures  are  based  
on  descriptions  that  employ  planar  rectangular  segments.  To  facilitate  the  exchange  (and  
retention)  of  fault  representations  in  this  format,  the  description  presented  below  allows  
for  the  (optional)  inclusion  of  information  that  specifies  the  planar  segments  used  to  define  
the  fault  surface.  
 
Aki  &  Richards  convention  for  strike,  dip  and  rake  are  used  for  all  the  source  descriptions.    
Slip  is  specified  in  three  orthogonal  directions,  two  within  the  subfault  surface,  and  the  
third  in  the  direction  of  the  outward  normal  to  that  surface.    This  allows  for  the  possibility  
of  time  dependent  rake  and/or  fault  opening.    Figure  1  illustrates  the  coordinate  system  
conventions  used  in  this  description.  

Figure 1: Coordinate system conventions for an

individual subfault. The system (x, y, z) is the global
system (e.g., x = north, y = east, z = down). The
system (u1, u2, u3) is the local system in which the slip
is specified. The axes u1 and u2 are tangent to the
rupture surface and u3 is the outward normal to the
surface. The strike (φ), and dip (δ) are the same as Aki
& Richards. Strictly speaking, the rake (λ) defines the
o
orientation of the u1 axis (with u2 at λ+90 ).

 
For  a  pure  shear  dislocation  with  constant  rake,  all  slip  will  be  in  the  u1  direction.    
Incorporating  time  variable  rake  is  handled  using  two  orthogonal  components  (u1  and  u2)  
each  with  a  unique  slip-­‐rate  function.    In  this  case  λ  can  be  specified  such  that  u1  and  u2  
bracket  the  average  rake  direction.    
Version  2.0  Format  Specification  
 
The  file  type  as  described  below  is  in  ASCII  format  to  allow  for  easy  exchange  and  editing  
capabilities.    The  general  file  format  is  as  follows:  
 
VERSION
HEADER BLOCK (optional)
DATA BLOCK
 
where  
 
VERSION version identifier (e.g., 2.0)
HEADER BLOCK comments and general fault description
DATA BLOCK detailed information for all point sources covering fault surface
 
 
HEADER BLOCK
 
The  optional  HEADER BLOCK  consists  of  a  series  of  lines  describing  the  general  features  of  
the  rupture  and  fault  surfaces.    Comment  lines  are  permitted  in  the  HEADER BLOCK  and  
are  denoted  by  the  ‘#’  character  appearing  at  the  beginning  of  the  line.  
 
Following  the  comment  lines,  an  optional  description  for  one  or  more  planar  segments  
representing  the  fault  can  appear.    Additional  descriptive  formats  can  be  developed  and  
added  as  needed.  
 
For  the  planar  segment  format,  the  first  line  is:  
 
PLANE NSEG
 
where  
 
PLANE flag specifying that following lines describe planar fault
NSEG total number of segments in fault description
 
Then  for  each  fault  segment,  the  following  two  lines  are  needed:  
 
ELON ELAT NSTK NDIP LEN WID
STK DIP DTOP SHYP DHYP
 
where  (for  this  segment)  
 
ELON top center longitude
ELAT top center latitude
NSTK number of point sources (subfaults) along strike
NDIP number of point sources (subfaults) down-dip
LEN segment length (km)
WID segment width (km)
STK segment strike
DIP segment dip
DTOP depth to top of fault segment (km)
SHYP along strike location (from top center) of hypocenter for this segment (km)
DHYP down-dip location (from top edge) of hypocenter for this segment (km)
 
The  above  description  is  repeated  for  each  additional  segment,  up  to  the  total  of  NSEG.  
 
Here  is  an  example  description  for  a  3  segment  fault:  
 
PLANE 3
-119.0985 35.0140 2 2 16.00 12.00
95 40 3.00 -2.00 10.00
-118.9582 35.1398 3 2 30.00 18.00
49 80 0.00 -15.00 10.00
-118.6702 35.2318 4 2 20.00 15.00
210 75 0.00 10.00 12.00
 
 
DATA BLOCK
 
Following  the  optional  header  lines  described  above  are  the  required  DATA BLOCK  lines.    
The  DATA BLOCK  consists  of  one  or  more  POINT BLOCK  structures.    Strictly  speaking,  
only  one  POINT BLOCK  structure  is  required,  and  it  can  contain  the  information  for  all  of  
the  point  sources  covering  the  fault.    However,  the  use  of  multiple  POINT BLOCK  
structures  is  convenient  for  describing  the  individual  segments  of  a  multi-­‐segment  fault  
rupture  (i.e.,  one  POINT BLOCK  structure  for  each  segment).  
 
The  first  line  in  each  POINT BLOCK  is:  
 
POINTS NP
 
where  
 
POINTS flag specifying that following lines describe point sources (subfaults)
NP number of point sources (subfaults) to follow
 
Following  this  are  blocks  of  lines  containing  information  about  each  of  the  NP  point  
sources  (subfaults).    The  format  of  the  lines  in  each  of  these  NP  blocks  is:  
 
LON LAT DEP STK DIP AREA TINIT DT VS DEN
RAKE SLIP1 NT1 SLIP2 NT2 SLIP3 NT3
SR1[1] SR1[2] SR1[3] . . . SR1[NT1]
SR2[1] SR2[2] SR2[3] . . . SR2[NT3]
SR3[1] SR3[2] SR3[3] . . . SR3[NT3]
 
where  
  
LON longitude of subfault center
LAT latitude of subfault center
DEP depth of subfault center (km)
STK strike
DIP dip
AREA area of subfault (cm2)
TINIT initiation time when rupture reaches subfault center (sec)
DT time step in slip velocity function (sec)
VS shear wave velocity at source point (cm/sec), enter -1 if not known
DEN density at source point (g/cm3), enter -1 if not known
RAKE direction of u1 axis (rake direction)
SLIP1 total slip in u1 direction (cm)
NT1 number of time points in slip rate function for u1 direction
SLIP2 total slip in u2 direction (cm)
NT2 number of time points in slip rate function for u2 direction
SLIP3 total slip in u3 (surface normal) direction (cm)
NT3 number of time points in slip rate function for u3 direction
SR1[1],…,SR1[NT1] slip rate at each time step for u1 direction (cm/sec)
SR2[1],…,SR2[NT2] slip rate at each time step for u2 direction (cm/sec)
SR3[1],…,SR3[NT3] slip rate at each time step for u3 direction (cm/sec)
 
Although  the  general  format  given  here  allows  for  slip  in  all  three  directions  (u1,  u2,  u3),  
most  cases  will  have  only  one  (u1)  or  two  (u1,  u2)  non-­‐zero  slip  components.    In  these  
situations,  the  remaining  slip  components,  as  well  as  the  number  of  time  points  for  the  slip  
rate  function,  are  specified  as  “0”.  
 
 
Changes  from  Version  1.0  

1. Added  option  to  specify  comment  lines  within  the  HEADER BLOCK.    Comment  lines  
are  denoted  with  a  leading  ‘#’.  

2. Added  fields  for  VS  (shear  wave  velocity  in  cm/sec)  and  DEN  (density  in  g/cm3)  to  
the  subfault  description.    Values  for  these  parameters  may  not  always  be  available  
(e.g.,  for  scenario  ruptures  generated  for  an  unspecified  region),  in  which  case  a  
value  of  -­‐1  should  be  entered.  

3. Added  option  to  subdivide  the  specification  of  the  individual  point  source  
descriptions  into  multiple  POINT BLOCK  structures  (version  1.0  requires  that  the  
subfault  descriptions  for  all  fault  segments  be  included  in  a  single  POINT BLOCK  
structure).  
 
   
Examples  
 
Example  1:  Single  Point  Source  
 
2.0
#
# Example 1: This is an example of the simplest form of a SRF file.
#
# This file represents a point source with strike=291, dip=59 and rake=142.
# Since the source is represented kinematically, it has a slip (16.32 cm)
# over an area (2.64926e+11 cm*cm) with rigidity given by Vs*Vs*den
# [(3.64e+05 cm/s)*(3.64e+05 cm/s)*(2.67 g/cm^3)=3.54e+11 dyne/cm^2].
# This gives a seismic moment of 1.53e+24 dyne-cm (Mw 5.42).
#
# The slip-rate function is a simple isosceles triangle discretized at 0.025 sec.
# Note that the slip-rate function is zero for all time points after those
# listed in the file (i.e., the last time point is implicitly zero and
# is not included).
#
# Other useful information that might be included in these comment lines is documentation
# of the source of the rupture e.g.,
#
# "Example 1 is a sample SRF generated by hand on Fri Nov 21 12:52:16 PST 2014
# (Robert Graves, <[email protected]>)."
#
# or the usable bandwidth of the rupture, e.g.,
#
# "This model is applicable in the bandwidth T>10 sec."
#
POINTS 1
-117.7610 33.9530 14.70 291 59 2.64926e+11 0.0000 2.50000e-02 3.64000e+05 2.67000e+00
142 16.32 4 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.63200e+02 3.26400e+02 1.63200e+02
 
Example  2:  Single  Planar  Fault  
 
2.0
#
# Example 2a: Single planar fault.
#
# Following these comment lines, a description of the fault plane location and
# geometry is given by 3 lines starting with "PLANE 1". Note that this description
# of the fault plane is optional. However, this information is useful in that it
# provides a concise description of the fault (e.g. for plotting purposes, etc.).
#
# The kinematic rupture information begins with the line "POINTS 4", which means this
# rupture is represented by 4 subfaults. The detailed description of the rupture on
# each subfault follows this line. Note that each subfault has a single slip-rate
# function with the direction of slip (rake) varying from subfault to subfault.
#
# Other useful information that might be included in these comment lines is documentation
# of the source of the rupture e.g.,
#
# "Example 2a is a sample rupture scenario generated Mon Nov 24 11:50:22 PST 2014
# with the code "genslip-v3.3.2" (Robert Graves, <[email protected]>)."
#
# or the usable bandwidth of the rupture, e.g.,
#
# "This rupture is applicable in the bandwidth T>3 sec."
#
PLANE 1
-119.0985 35.0140 2 2 16.00 12.00
95 40 3.00 -2.00 10.00
POINTS 4
-119.1459 34.9826 4.9284 95 40 4.80000e+11 2.6465 1.00000e-01 3.20000e+05 2.65000e+00
82 8.59 6 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 5.91682e+01 1.16849e+01 8.57081e+00 4.81257e+00 1.63265e+00
-119.0585 34.9763 4.9284 95 40 4.80000e+11 2.4801 1.00000e-01 3.20000e+05 2.65000e+00
120 43.18 7 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 2.88510e+02 5.43680e+01 4.31742e+01 2.83736e+01 1.38752e+01
3.50832e+00
-119.1503 34.9414 8.7851 95 40 4.80000e+11 0.0000 1.00000e-01 3.60000e+05 2.75000e+00
76 26.61 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 2.66114e+02
-119.0629 34.9352 8.7851 95 40 4.80000e+11 0.1637 1.00000e-01 3.60000e+05 2.75000e+00
82 118.54 9 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 6.18123e+02 2.28298e+02 1.12802e+02 9.21321e+01 6.71185e+01
4.17206e+01 1.99587e+01 5.27757e+00
 
   
Example  3:  Multi-­‐segment  Rupture  
 
2.0
#
# Example 3a: Multi-segment fault rupture (3 segments).
#
# This rupture consists of 3 planar rectangular segments. Following these comment lines,
# a description of the location and geometry of the individual fault segments is given by
# 7 lines starting with "PLANE 3"; 2 lines for each of the 3 fault segments. Note that
# this description of the fault segments is optional. However, this information is useful in
# that it provides a concise description of the fault (e.g. for plotting purposes, etc.).
#
# The kinematic rupture information for each segment begins with a line "POINTS <NP>".
# There are 3 of these in this file, one for each segment, and the detailed subfault
# information for each segment follows the "POINTS <NP>" line. The number of subfaults
# (<NP>) can be different for each segment (<NP>= 4, 6, 8, respectively for the
# 3 segments in this file).
#
# Other useful information that might be included in these comment lines is documentation
# of the source of the rupture e.g.,
#
# "Example 3a is a sample rupture scenario generated Mon Nov 24 12:19:29 PST 2014
# with the code "genslip-v3.3.2" (Robert Graves, <[email protected]>)."
#
# or the usable bandwidth of the rupture, e.g.,
#
# "This rupture is applicable in the bandwidth T>8 sec."
#
PLANE 3
-119.0985 35.0140 2 2 16.00 12.00
95 40 3.00 -2.00 10.00
-118.9582 35.1398 3 2 30.00 18.00
49 80 0.00 -15.00 10.00
-118.6702 35.2318 4 2 20.00 15.00
210 75 0.00 10.00 12.00
POINTS 4
-119.1459 34.9826 4.9284 95 40 4.8000e+11 3.9808 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
90 78.56 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.15372e+02 4.17567e+01
-119.0585 34.9763 4.9284 95 40 4.8000e+11 3.9946 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
94 124.76 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.86001e+02 6.35258e+01
-119.1503 34.9414 8.7851 95 40 4.8000e+11 0.0000 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
20 248.43 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 4.96865e+02
-119.0629 34.9352 8.7851 95 40 4.8000e+11 4.6669 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
115 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
POINTS 6
-118.9772 35.0207 4.4316 49 80 9.0000e+11 8.5605 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
5 81.21 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.06553e+02 5.58618e+01
-118.8944 35.0797 4.4316 49 80 9.0000e+11 11.7304 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
-11 102.76 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.44288e+02 6.12220e+01
-118.8115 35.1386 4.4316 49 80 9.0000e+11 16.1476 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
7 61.28 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.22558e+02
-118.9659 35.0102 13.2949 49 80 9.0000e+11 6.0000 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
-48 302.30 4 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 3.70640e+02 2.02352e+02 3.16073e+01
-118.8831 35.0691 13.2949 49 80 9.0000e+11 12.2177 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
-14 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
-118.8002 35.1280 13.2949 49 80 9.0000e+11 14.2068 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
60 130.10 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 2.60198e+02
POINTS 8
-118.6980 35.3227 3.6222 210 75 3.7500e+11 24.2740 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
52 62.62 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 8.55161e+01 3.97197e+01
(continued on next page)
 -118.7255 35.2838 3.6222 210 75 3.7500e+11 20.3903 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
73 259.66 6 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 3.57517e+02 7.02898e+01 5.18295e+01 2.94211e+01 1.02659e+01
-118.7530 35.2449 3.6222 210 75 3.7500e+11 20.5304 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
58 89.32 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.20825e+02 5.78088e+01
-118.7805 35.2060 3.6222 210 75 3.7500e+11 18.2282 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
22 173.57 4 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 2.04059e+02 1.03183e+02 3.98911e+01
-118.7165 35.3314 10.8667 210 75 3.7500e+11 21.5693 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
90 138.38 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 2.76766e+02
-118.7440 35.2925 10.8667 210 75 3.7500e+11 20.7451 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
45 77.84 2 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.55686e+02
-118.7715 35.2536 10.8667 210 75 3.7500e+11 18.3628 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
-15 102.13 3 0.00 0 0.00 0
0.00000e+00 1.33963e+02 7.02981e+01
-118.7990 35.2147 10.8667 210 75 3.7500e+11 18.0000 5.00000e-01 -1.00000e+00 -1.00000e+00
35 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0