Apologies if you receive multiple copies of this mail.
=======================================================================
KEELE UNIVERSITY - School of Earth Sciences & Geography
Applied & Environmental Geophysics Research Group
PhD project available from October 2002
Numerical modelling of deformation in geological materials using the KAGe
supercomputer
Supervisors: Dr George Tuckwell & Dr Nigel Cassidy
Many different styles of deformation can be seen in rocks at scales ranging
from microscopic through to outcrop and regional. Understanding the cause
and effect of these deformation events is fundamental to a wide range of
industries including mining, petroleum, engineering, geotechnical and
environmental. The principal controlling factors of individual deformation
mechanisms have been well described using simple elastic, plastic or viscous
rock characteristics. Although this has permitted the construction and
development of predictive numerical models, their application has been
limited by the assumptions and simplifications made.
In many situations, geological deformation cannot be described purely in
terms of a single deformation mechanism. Indeed, rocks of the same sequence
may deform in entirely different ways with fundamental consequences for the
resulting style and geometry of deformation. Whilst numerical codes do exist
which include both brittle and viscous rheologies, their implementation has
been restricted by the lack of available computing power. This project
utilises the considerable computing power available with the KAGe
Supercomputer to investigate the influence of geological variations, such as
stratigraphic layering and pre-existing deformation structures, on the
deformation of brittle, viscous and mixed-rheology regimes.
This project will have wide ranging practical applications
Petroleum industry - Problems associated with stratigraphically controlled
structures including fractured carbonate reservoirs. Deformation associated
with salt diapirisation.
Mining industry - structurally controlled mineralisation and safe
excavation/extraction strategies.
Geotechnical & Environmental - safe design of waste repositories and
analysis of rock mass response to construction or excavation.
The project would suit a physics, geophysics, computer science, maths or
engineering student with a good 2.1 or 1st degree. Training will be provided
in parallel computing, geomechanics and structural geology. Dependent on the
background of the successful candidate the project may include a component
of fieldwork.
For further details and application procedure contact Dr. George Tuckwell
[log in to unmask], telephone: 01782 583176
For more information about our research please see our website at
http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/geophysics
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam Toon Research Fellow [log in to unmask]
Applied & Environmental Geophysics Research Group
John Cadman Laboratory
School of Earth Sciences & Geography Tel: +44 (0)1782 583698
Keele University Fax: +44 (0)1782 583737
Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/geophysics/ [log in to unmask]
|