Current Projects
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Rate- and State-Dependent Friction
Experiments are devised to determine the rate- and state-dependent friction laws using both rocks and transparent sliding surfaces.
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Earthquake Nucleation
How do earthquakes start? Explore earthquake nucleation experiments on the 2-meter biaxial press.
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Mineralogy of Creeping Faults
Why are some earthquake faults locked while others slowly creep? The mineralogy of the fault plays an important role in fault strength.
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Earthquake Simulation in High-Velocity Rotary Shear Experiments
How do you design an experimental apparatus where rocks surfaces can slip at the speeds encountered during real earthquakes?
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San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD)
A drillhole that crosses the San Andreas fault at 2.7 depth deep in the earth reveals minerals with unusual physical properties.
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Melting of Slip Surface at High Pressure
Simulated earthquakes at very high pressures causes fault surfaces to melt and loose strength.