Research themesMy colleagues and I measure the strength of earth and icy planetary materials at high pressures and extreme temperatures (hot or cold). The work is mostly experimental and mostly done indoors. The overriding purpose of our experiments is to provide constraint for dynamic models--from deep interiors to near surface--anywhere that strength of materials comes into play. To say it another way, we reach out to any area of perceived relevance where the state of deviatoric stress is a non-negligible thermodynamic variable. We currently concentrate in two areas: |
|
 |
Flow and fracture of water ice (including its high-pressure phases through ice VI), and of other frozen volatiles (such as methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide) to help constrain models of planetary dynamics and surface geology on Mars and icy satellites of the outer solar system. (Click on the images for an enlarged view) |
 |
Flow of mantle rocks (especially olivine) to help us constrain the internal dynamics of our own planet. These experiments involve a new kind of deformation apparatus called the Deformation-DIA and the use of synchrotron x rays to measure stress and plastic strain. |
