Laboratory Earthquake Physics and Fault Mechanics
From grain-scale heterogeneity to fault-scale rupture
My research investigates how the compositional structure of fault gouge governs the nucleation, propagation, and arrest of slip events. Using analog fault materials, including glass bead–quartz mixtures and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blocks, I design controlled laboratory experiments that span the mechanical continuum from stick-slip to stable sliding. I integrate far-field mechanical records, locally resolved stress measurements, and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) of the deformation field to characterize the preparatory phase that precedes dynamic rupture. My broader objective is to translate observable precursory signatures from controlled experiments into diagnostic frameworks applicable to natural fault systems.
