| Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering |
Research Interests Laboratory Earthquakes Collaborators: H. Kanamori and N. Lapusta, Caltech; J. R. Rice, Harvard; M. Bouchon, Grenoble, France; S. Das, Oxford, UK. Students/Post Docs: Michael Mello and Harsha S. Bhat, Caltech
The fault forms an acute angle with the compression axis to provide the shear driving force necessary for continued rupturing. We investigate the characteristics of rupture, such as rupture speed, rupture mode, associated ground motion under various conditions such as tectonic load and interface roughness. Both homogeneous and bimaterial interfaces (abutted by both elastic and damaged medium) are investigated. Some of the key outcomes from this project are:
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The goal of the this work is to create model laboratory experiments mimicking the dynamic shear rupture process associated with natural earthquakes. Such experiments are used to observe new physical phenomena and to also create benchmark comparisons with existing analytical analysis and field observations. The experiments use high-speed photography, photoelasticity, and laser velocimetry as diagnostics. The fault systems are simulated using two photoelastic plates (Homalite) held together by friction. The far field tectonic loading is simulated by pre-compression and the triggering of dynamic rupture (spontaneous nucleation) is achieved by suddenly dropping the normal stress in a small region by disintegrating a thin wire. 
last
update:
05/31/2016