Analysis of Deformation Processes

Mechanical earth modeling

In geosciences, researchers use and integrate a multitude of tools such as geologic mapping, analog and advanced numerical modeling techniques to describe deformation processes on multiple scales. Key research areas include the description, numerical modeling and analysis of folds on multiple scales; the analysis of plate boundary strike-slip tectonics; the numerical simulation of salt tectonics; and poro-elastic reservoir compaction processes.

In subsurface engineering, the mechanical earth modeling approach focuses on how the integration of geologic, geophysical, petrophysical, rock mechanical and production analysis can be used to design better engineering applications. GGPE researchers closely collaborate with industry experts on active projects in the area of wellbore integrity and leakage mitigation.

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Interested in discussing the research we are working on or learning more? Please contact:

Dr. Andreas Eckert

Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering/Geology and Geophysics

Research Interests

Numerical simulation of buckle folding, numerical simulation of rock fabric evolution, fracture initiation, salt tectonics, deformation bands, and wellbore and reservoir geomechanics. 

For more information regarding Dr. Eckert's research, please visit his website, or select here for publications.

Dr. Leslie Gertsch

Associate Professor, Geological Engineering

Research Interests

Sustainably producing the natural resources of space, which will reduce launch costs.  In time, mining in space will reduce human impact on Earth's environment and increase the chance that humanity will survive catastrophes, such as nuclear war or asteroid impact.  Additionally, the coupled hydromechanical behavior of fractured rock.  Rock cracks and changes shape when it is put under load, and this changes how rapidly groundwater, petroleum, etc. can move through it.  The presence of water and other fluids also changes how easily rock can be excavated for foundations, tunnels, etc.

For additional information regarding Dr. Gertsch's research, please select here for publications.

Dr. Weibing Gong

Assistant Professor, Geological Engineering

Research Interests

Climate change-related and seismic hazards, infrastructure resilience against natural hazards, applications of remote sensing and AI in geological (geotechnical) engineering, and carbon detection and capture.

For additional information regarding Dr. Gong's research, please select here for publications and here for his lab website.

Dr. Katherine Grote

Associate Professor, Geological Engineering

Research Interests

Groundwater and near surface geophysics, specifically in applying these techniques to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

For additional information regarding Dr. Grote's research, please select here for publications.

Dr. Jeremy Maurer

Assistant Professor, Geological Engineering/Geology and Geophysics

Research Interests

Geodesy, earthquake and fault mechanics, induced seismicity, inverse problems and modeling, uncertainty quantification, crustal deformation, and geophysical methods.

For more information regarding Dr. Maurer's research, please visit his website, or select here for publications.