Mechanics and Physics of Earthquakes
Here we focus on problems at the intersection of physics, geophysics, seismology,
and materials science.
Models involving the dynamics of amorphous materials (such as the crushed up rock that fills earthquake faults) are used to study earthquake rupture and improve understanding of the frictional interactions that govern rupture propagation.
We investigate the physics of the earthquake source by attempting to better understand how physics operating at small scales can produce different seismic dynamics that might be observed at the scale of faults.
Research interests include but are not limited to:
- Modeling tectonic tremor
- Stick-slip instabilities
- Strain localization in dynamic rupture simulations
- Modeling nonlinear frictional interactions on faults
Faculty members doing research in this area: