A Sequential Quadratic Programming Approach to Coupling‐Bounded Non‐Inertial Earthquake Cycle Kinematics With Distance‐Weighted Eigenmodes

Abstract Geologic and geodetic observations provide constraints on tectonic and earthquake cycle kinematics. Block models offer one approach to integrating the effects of plate rotations, elastic strain accumulation, applied basal displacements, internal block strain, and idealized pressure sources. Here, we describe the construction of block models where spatially variable slip rates are parameterized by distance‐weighted eigenmodes operating over meshes of triangular dislocation elements. This dimensionally reduced model is recast as a quadratic programming problem with upper and lower bounds on both geologic fault slip rates and spatially variable slip deficit rates. We propose iterating over successive quadratic programming estimates with evolving slip rate bounds to find a solution consistent with specified coupling at all points on geometrically complex fault surfaces.