U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park: Rock Mechanics Laboratory

Collaboration with Dr. David Lockner

One of the best ways to learn how a system works is to hold all of the variables involved in the system constant and vary one of the variables to see how the system responds.

In experimental rock mechanics we recreate deformation conditions from deep in the Earth in a controlled environment. Under those conditions we can test the response of rocks to these conditions and we can measure physical properties of the rock such as friction, permeability, strength, elastic constants. We also measure how these properties evolve as deformation progresses.

LINKS

1. • USGS Rock Mechanics Lab