Earth Sciences

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Undergraduate Admissions

Rock Mechanics

• Location: Room OB16, Basement, Kathleen Lonsdale Building
• Telephone Extension: 32410
• Laboratory Manager: Prof Peter Sammonds
  

Research Equipment:

Triaxial rock deformation & physics cell capable of operating at high temperature (1000ºC) and pressures (1400 MPa), incorporating a 700 MPa pore fluid intensifier, utilizing a 200 kN servo-controlled actuator, with AE monitoring, P and S wave velocities and permeability measurement, using 15mm diameter by 45mm long specimens.

The high confining pressure of this apparatus can simulate the environment of rock at great depth in the earth (potentially over 50km deep in the crust).
The results of this type of experiment not only provides information about the mechanical properties of the rock, but when coupled with acoustic emission measurements can be used to identify patterns which can aid earthquake prediction.