Using a differential form of the potential energy function and taking the effect of work applied by external force in far field into account, the mechanism of strike-slip fault earthquake is analyzed. The research indicates that each characteristic displayed with a fold catastrophe model in the catastrophe theory corresPonds to a specific primary characteristic of the strike-slip fault earthquake. The fold catastrophe can describe the positions of starting and end points of a fault failure and the distance of fault dislocation. These include the description of stability of the surrounding rock-fault system before and after the earthquake. Two different illustrations about elastic energy releasing amount of the surrounding rock with the fault failure are shown with the primary characteristics mutually demonstrated. The intensity of strike-slip fault earthquake is related to the surrounding rock press and the stiffness ratio of surrounding rock and fault. The larger the surrounding rock press, the smaller the stiffness ratio. The larger the included angle between the tangential stress axis and the causative fault surface, the stronger the earthquake.
The relationship between work and energy increment of a thrust fault system with quasi-static deformation can be decomposed into two parts： volume strain energy and deviation stress energy. The relationship between work and energy increment of the deviation stress of a simplified thrust fault system is analyzed based on the catastrophe theory. The research indicates that the characteristics displayed by the fold catastrophe model can appropriately describe the condition of earthquake generation, the evolvement process of main shock of thrust fault earthquake, and some important aftershock proper- ties. The bigger the surrounding press of surrounding rock is, the bigger the maximum principal stress is, the smaller the incidences of the potential thrust fault surface are, and the smaller the ratio between the tangential stiffness of surrounding rock and the slope is, which is at the inflexion point on the softened zone of the fault shearing strength curve. Thus, when earthquake occurrs, the larger the elastic energy releasing amount of sur- rounding rock is, the bigger the earthquake magnitude is, the larger the half distance of fault dislocation is, and the larger the displacement amplitude of end face of surrounding rock is. Fracturing and expanding the fault rock body and releasing the volume strain energy of surrounding rock during the earthquake can enhance the foregoing effects to- gether.
