Dynamic rock fracture and induced seismicity

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Understanding rock deformation and fracture is important at all scales in nature. Such processes vary from intergranular microcracking, leading to preferential alignment of microcracks in laboratory rock samples and in situ rock masses, to massive earthquakes due to rupture along key lithospheric plate boundaries. Thus, fracturing contributes directly to seismic behaviour, mechanical properties, rock fluid interactions, and engineering applications. The research will utilize unique experimental rock deformation and geophysical imaging instrumentation at the University of Toronto to simulate in the laboratory true 3D stress, thermal and fluid conditions in the Earth to study dynamic rock fracture and induced seismicity. The laboratory experiments and micromechanical modeling techniques will be used to carry out innovative science on the physics of rock fracture with relevance to earthquake and fault mechanics and fluid transport in rocks. The research will provide significant insight into the basic and fundamental processes occurring in the natural environment, including earthquake and volcanic processes, fault nucleation, the critical role of fluids and the complex nature of coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical stresses. In addition, this research will provide new knowledge and techniques for a wide variety of industrial applications, such as rockbursts and induced seismicity in mines, enhanced hydrocarbon recovery using hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity, geothermal energy recovery, deep geological disposal issues for radioactive waste and carbon sequestration.