Shelley Kenner's research focuses on the mechanical modeling of tectonic problems using finite element techniques. In particular, she is interested in the large scale, long term evolution of plate boundary regions, time-dependent deformation during earthquake cycles, mechanisms of postseismic and interseismic stress concentration along active faults, and the interaction of faults in complex, multiple fault systems. Recent study areas have included the San Andreas fault system in northern California and the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the south-central United States.

In northern California, Dr. Kenner has studied the structure and rheology of the lower crust using time-dependent geodetic data from the 90 years following the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This study included a reanalysis of historical triangulation data obtained between 1906 and 1973. Results indicate deformation associated with the plate boundary at depth takes place along narrow shear zones that extend through the entire lithosphere.

In 1811-1812, three large earthquakes occurred in the New Madrid Seismic Zone within a period of 54 days. Each of these earthquakes had a magnitude greater than ~7.5. Dr. Kenner has recently helped to develop a physically reasonable mechanical model that can be used to explain the repeated generation of large intraplate earthquakes such as the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence. In future, the model will be used to interpret available geophysical data from the region, particularly global positioning system (GPS) data. The model also demonstrates that intraplate regions behave very differently from active plate boundaries like the San Andreas fault system. As a result, the mechanics of intraplate seismicity will provide a wealth of topics for future research.

More generally, Dr. Kenner is interested in applying numerical techniques, particularly finite element methods, to a variety of solid mechanics problems in the geosciences. When investigating the development of a region or material over time, for instance, these techniques provide an extremely useful tool for testing hypotheses originally inferred form other field or laboratory observations.

Kenner, S.J., and P. Segall, 2000, A Mechanical Model for Intraplate Earthquakes: Application to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Science, v. 289, p. 2329-2332.

Kenner, S.J., and P. Segall, 2000, Lower Crustal Structure in Northern California: Implications From Strain Rate Variations Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, submitted, Journal of Geophysical Research.

Atkinson et al., 2000, Reassessing the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Eos, v. 31, pp. 397, 402-03.

Kenner, S.J., and P. Segall, 2000, Postseismic Deformation Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 105, p. 13,195-13, 209.

Cervelli, P., S. J. Kenner, and P. Segall, 1999, Correction to ‘Dislocations in Inhomogeneous Media Via a Moduli Perturbation Approach: General Formulation and Two-dimensional Solutions by Du, Y., P. Segall, and H. Gao’, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 104, p. 23,271-23, 277.

Kenner, S.J., and P. Segall, 1999, Time Dependence of the Stress Shadowing Effect and Its Relation to the Structure of the Lower Crust, Geology, v. 27, p. 119-122.