Using long-term computer simulations and mean-field-like arguments, we investigate the transient time and the properties of the stationary state of the Olami-Feder-Christensen model as function of the coupling parameter $\alpha$ and the system size $N$. The most important findings are that the transient time increases with a nonuniversal exponent of the system size, and that the avalanche size distribution will not approach a power law with increasing system size.

• Received 27 July 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.066109