Dear authors,

Many thanks for your diligent replies and updated manuscript. I am happy to suggest your manuscript for publication in Solid Earth, if you quickly correct some small typos ( p1. in such a case; p17 analytical solution is based on; p.20 according to the linear slip theory; and re-read the manuscript for more of such small issues). Also, I would suggest to clarify the notion of the weak formulation: If a reviewer is unfamiliar with this concept in this context, chances are that the same applies to readers, and I found the usage of "explicitely imposed" boundary condition an unfortunate choice of words (as boundary conditions are, after having been imposed, "implicit" to the weak form).

I trust that you will amend these minor points very quickly to proceed to the publication stage.

Many thanks again for choosing Solid Earth, with best wishes,

Tarje Nissen-Meyer

Dear authors,
including the aspects given by the Topical Editor, I am happy to see your final revised manuscript published.
With best regards, Lotte Krawczyk.