This $500,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Earth Sciences, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), will fund research at Stanford University from September 2022 to August 2025 on the physical and mechanical response of aluminosilicate cementation. Principal Investigator Dr. Vanorio will conduct laboratory studies to investigate how cements form within rocks and how much they increase rock strength under varying thermal and chemical conditions. This cementation process plays an important role in strengthening faults between earthquakes. The research findings could help engineers design long-lasting materials and underground storage facilities. Dr. Vanorio plans to analyze cementitious phases at the micro- and nano-scales to understand how they influence rock properties and failure mechanisms. Outcomes from this work may advance understanding of natural sealing processes within the Earth's crust.
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