Engineering Research Equipment Grant: Laboratory Equipment for Geotechnical Stress-Strain-Flow Research

该项目的目的是更换罗德岛大学海洋地质力学实验室（URI/MGL）的一些研究设备，这些设备正在被以前的赞助机构拆除，并将一些使用过的过时设备替换为最先进的设备和仪器，用于海洋沉积物的研究。MGL设施已成为了解深海沉积物行为的最新发展的国际公认的来源，并通过实地和实验室研究以及计算机分析做出了重大贡献。该项目旨在增强和扩展当前URI/MGL设施的研究能力。购置本建议所要求的设备将大大提高进行当前和计划中的研究的能力。将直接受益的主要具体项目包括：a)正在进行的国家科学基金会资助的蠕变过程研究（三年项目的第二年），b)一个拟议的项目，研究某些深海地区尚未解释的欠固结现象，c)一个拟议的项目，研究泥石流引发的过程，d)一个关于海底斜坡过程的更广泛的项目。对近岸沉积物的其他研究也已开始。从商业和安全需要的角度来看，大多数研究对国家具有至关重要的意义。

The objective of this project is to replace some of the research equipment at the University of Rhode Island's Marine Geomechanics Laboratory (URI/MGL) that is being removed by a previous sponsoring agency, and to replace some used, outmoded equipment with state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation for research on marine sediments. The MGL facility has been an internationally recognized source for state-of-the-art developments in understanding the behavior of deep marine sediments and significant contributions have been made through field and laboratory studies and computer analysis. The project is directed at enhancing and extending the research capabilities of the current URI/MGL facility. The acquisition of the equipment requested in this proposal will greatly enhance the ability to carry on current and projected research. The primary specific projects that will directly benefit include: a) the ongoing NSF sponsored research on creep processes (in second year of 3-year project), b) a proposed program to study the as yet unexplained phenomenon of underconsolidation seen in certain deep sea regimes, c) a proposed program to study the processes by which debris flows are initiated, and d) a broader program on submarine slope processes. Other studies of nearshore sediments have been initiated. Most of the research is of critical importance to the nation in terms of utilization of the Exclusive Economic Zone for commercial and security needs.