EAR-PF: An experimental study of temperature-dependent frictional healing processes: Implications for plate boundary tectonics and post-seismic healing

丹尼尔·金博士被授予美国国家科学基金会地球科学博士后奖学金，在宾夕法尼亚州立大学开展研究和教育的综合项目。这个项目的目标是发展我们对微观物理机制和摩擦愈合的地质意义的理解。具体来说，该项目将涉及热激活过程在准静止合成断层泥力学演化中的作用的实验研究。力学数据和微观结构观察将在摩擦滑动和晶内塑性变形的理论背景下进行分析。提出的研究将有助于在从单个颗粒到板块边界的尺度上更全面地了解地震活动性与粘性流动之间的关系。这项研究的结果有望增加我们对断裂带过程和地震力学的理解。橄榄石断层泥是一种几乎没有摩擦特性数据的材料，其实验结果对于发展对海洋地壳地震过程的机械理解尤为重要。拟议的研究还包括通过完成项目的离散部分作为高级研究项目，直接让本科生参与拟议的研究的计划。这些项目的设计使学生能够获得一般的研究技能和特定的技术技能。这一教育组成部分还将通过提供一个发展建议和指导研究项目技能的机会，进一步促进金博士的专业发展。

Dr. Daniel King has been awarded an NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop an integrated program of research and education at Penn State University. The goal of this project is to develop our understanding of the micro-scale physical mechanisms and the geological implications of frictional healing. Specifically, this project will involve experimental investigation of the role of thermally-activated processes on the mechanical evolution of quasi-stationary synthetic fault gouge. Mechanical data and microstructural observations will be analyzed within the context of theory for both frictional sliding and intragranular plastic deformation. The proposed research will contribute to developing a more complete understanding of the relationship between seismicity and viscous flow at scales ranging from individual grains to plate boundaries. The results of this study are expected to increase our understanding of fault zone processes and the mechanics of earthquakes. Results from experiments on olivine fault gouge, a material for which little data on frictional properties exists, are especially important for developing a mechanistic understanding of earthquake processes in the oceanic crust. The proposed research also includes plans to directly involve undergraduate students in the proposed research by completing discrete portions of the project as senior research projects. These projects are designed so that students can gain general research skills and specific technical skills. This educational component will also further the professional development of Dr. King by providing an opportunity to develop skills in advising and directing research projects.