A Model for Seizure

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Abstract
Seizure may be defined as a large-scale mass flow. It requires a small variation of the shear strength with depth, i.e., a small temperature gradient. The temperature gradient in the upper layer can be calculated on the assumption that the mechanical energy input is dissipated as viscous friction. The calculation requires only the melting temperature and one limit value of the temperature range. The value adopted is the lower limit which, at the thermal steady state, can be easily deduced knowing the heat flux and the heat flow conditions. The knowledge of the temperature gradients leads to the conclusion that any change of conditions that lowers the surface temperature also reduces the shear strength gradient and may lead to seizure. In particular, it appears that seizure is very unlikely to occur during acceleration but is possible during deceleration.

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