Considerable progress has been made recently in quantifying geometrical and physical
properties of fault surfaces and adjacent fractured and granulated damage zones in
active faulting environments. There has also been significant progress in developing
rheologies and computational frameworks that can model the dynamics of fault zone
processes. This volume provides state-of-the-art theoretical and observational results
on the mechanics, structure and evolution of fault zones. Subjects discussed include
damage rheologies, development of instabilities, fracture and friction, dynamic rupture
experiments, and analyses of earthquake and fault zone data.