Laboratory evidence for permeability drop by crack creep during seismic dormancy

Here, we investigate the mechanical, elastic, and hydraulic response of thermally cracked granite subjected to cyclic loading with extended low-stress holding periods designed to simulate interseismic dormancy. Using triaxial experiments at 20 MPa confining pressure, we continuously measured permeability, seismic velocities (VP, VSH, VSV), and volumetric strain.