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

该基金的支持将促进定制设计的双轴变形设备的建设，该设备将允许在断层带应力作用下，对地壳上部至中部温度、压力和孔隙流体条件下地球材料的行为进行基础研究。压力容器、负载框架和热液控制系统将在宾夕法尼亚州立大学内部使用现有的机械车间、电子设备和专业知识建造。该系统将在PI Chris Marone的监督下，由专门的技术人员在两年的时间内组装完成。研究真实地震震源条件下大地材料的性质将大大提高我们对地震断层破裂起裂过程的认识。相关实验数据较少，该装置的研制成功将为岩石力学领域增加新的经验数据。该设备将获得的实验数据与圣安德烈亚斯断层材料（即SAFOD钻井项目）所经历的机械和物理环境的原位观测具有很强的互补性。***

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).***