Acoustic fluidization for earthquakes?
  Melosh [1996] has suggested that acoustic fluidization could provide an alternative to theories that are invoked as explanations for why some crustal faults appear to be weak. We show that there is a subtle but profound inconsistency in the theory that unfortunately invalidates the results. We propose possible remedies but must acknowledge that the relevance of acoustic fluidization remains an open question. 
D. Sornette (UCLA and CNRS-University of Nice) and A. Sornette   (University of Nice)