The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/0220170222We describe a set of benchmark exercises that are designed to
test if computer codes that simulate dynamic earthquake rupture
are working as intended. These types of computer codes
are often used to understand how earthquakes operate, and
they produce simulation results that include earthquake size,
amounts of fault slip, and the patterns of ground shaking and
crustal deformation. The benchmark exercises examine a range
of features that scientists incorporate in their dynamic earthquake
rupture simulations. These include implementations of
simple or complex fault geometry, off-fault rock response to an
earthquake, stress conditions, and a variety of formulations for
fault friction. Many of the benchmarks were designed to investigate
scientific problems at the forefronts of earthquake physics
and strong ground motions research. The exercises are freely
available on our website for use by the scientific community.Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC