Earthquakes and Fault Zones

October 10, 2022

Our lab directs research to investigate the processes and mechanics of fault zones and the earthquakes they generate. Our latest center-piece is the UT Earthquake Machine, a large-format direct shear experiment, designed and built in-house to recreate laboratory earthquakes in real time. The machine’s meter-long, artificial fault is studded with sensors and designed to lift the veil on how earthquakes play out under different conditions and pinpoint precursors that could lead to new early warning systems. The UT Earthquake Machine is just the latest of our many lab facilities for studying earthquake faults.