Development of a Pressure Vessel for Hydrothermal Control in Biaxial Deformation Experiments at the Penn State Rock Mechanics Laboratory

这笔赠款提供的MaroneSupport将促进定制设计的双向形变仪器的建造，该仪器将允许对地球材料在上至中地壳温度、压力和受到断裂带应力时的孔隙流体条件下的行为进行基础研究。压力容器、加载框架和水热控制系统将在宾夕法尼亚州立大学使用现有的机械车间和电子设备和专业知识在内部制造。该系统将由一名专门的技术人员在PI Chris Marone的监督下在两年内组装完成。研究现实震源条件下地球材料的性质，将极大地提高我们对地震断层破裂孕育过程的认识。相关实验数据稀少，该装置的研制成功将为岩石力学领域增添新的经验数据。利用该装置将获得的实验数据对圣安德烈亚斯断裂带材料(即SAFOD钻井项目)所经历的机械和物理环境的计划现场观测具有很强的补充作用。

0345813MaroneSupport from this grant will facilitate construction of a custom-design biaxial deformation apparatus that will allow for fundamental studies of the behavior of earth materials at upper- to mid-crustal temperatures, pressures, and pore fluid conditions when subjected to fault zone stresses. Pressure vessels, a load frame, and hydrothermal control systems will be built in-house at Penn State using existing machine shop and electronics equipment and expertise. The system will be assembled by a dedicated technician within a two-year time period under the supervision of PI Chris Marone. Study of the properties of earth materials under realistic earthquake hypocentral conditions will greatly improve our understanding of earthquake fault rupture initiation processes. Relevant experimental data is sparse and successful development of this apparatus will add new empirical data to the field of rock mechanics. Experimental data that will be obtained with this device is highly complementary to planned in situ observation of the mechanical and physical environment experienced by San Andreas fault zone materials (i.e., the SAFOD drilling project).***