Shelley J. Kenner

My background is in mechanical engineering and I am generally interested in solid mechanics problems in the earth sciences.  My particular interests involve modeling the long term, large scale tectonic problems using numerical modeling techniques.  In addition, I am also interested in the use of geodetic datasets, especially triangulation, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Interferometric Synthetic Aperature Radar (InSar), for the solution various geophysical, tectonics, and geotechnical problems.  More specifically, I am interested in

• Large scale, long term evolution of plate boundary regions
• The structure and rheology of the earth's lower crust
• Time dependent deformation during earthquake cycles
• Stress and strain interactions between faults in complex, multiple fault systems
• Mechanisms of postseismic and interseismic stress concentration along active faults
• Use of geodetic data to contrain models of tectonic and geotechnical deformation
• Application of solid mechanics and finite element modeling techniques to crustal deformation studies
• Improved estimation of seismic hazard using more complete temporal-spatial datasets and modeling techniques

To help generate and manage the finite element models, I have developed a geologically based finite element pre-, post-processor called APMODEL. This code, written using MATLAB, defines the model geometry, boundary conditions, initial conditions, and finite element mesh.  It also helps the user specify  necessary numerical controls, time-stepping information, and output requests.  Finally, the code outputs an input file appropriate for the finite element code being used.  I use the commercially available finite element program ABAQUS for the majority of my modeling.

Currently, I am involved in the finite element analysis of time-dependent deformation, strain accumulation and stress transfer in the the San Andreas fault system in Northern California, in the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the south-central United States, in the Basin and Range Province in the western United States, in the Eastern California Shear Zone, and in Iceland.  The majority of these models are constrained using geodetic data (triangulation, GPS, and InSar), though I am always looking for additional, new, and  innovative constraints to help better define the problem and its solution.  Possible sources include seismic reflection/refraction studies, laboratory studies of rheology and fault constitutive relations, heat flow measurements, in situ stress measurements, and geothermometry, among others.

Though most of my work employs finite element techniques, for certain problems I also find myself processing and analyzing geodetic data or developing analytical solutions representative of  simplified earth systems.  Analytical solutions, in particular, help to develop intuition and basic understanding of the various mechanical processes that take place within the earth.  These 'simplified' problems can be extremely helpful in developing the more complex and realistic numerical  models.  In the near future, I also hope to develop a number of more applied, geotechnical type projects which employ GPS geodesy, seismic site response, and various techniques from inverse theory.

Below is a listing of various current, completed, or proposed projects that I am involved in.  Where possible, links to the abstracts, downloadable manuscripts, and some of the more significant figures are included.

Current Research Projects
Basin and Range

• Postseismic Reloading: A Source For Temporal Clustering Of Major Earthquakes Along Individual Fault Segments

• Lower Crustal Rheology in Iceland from Geodetic Measures of Post-rifting Deformation at Krafla Volcano

• Improved Models of the New Madrid Seismic Zone Via Integration of Modeling Results with Distinct Time and Length Scales:  Is Glacial Triggering Possible?
• Stress and Strain Concentration Within Zones of Relative Weakness: The Role of Tectonic Environment and the Sources of Stress that Load Faults

• Lower Crustal Controls on Postseismic Reloading Rates in the 1906 San Francisco Bay Area

• Inverting Surface Geodetic Data for Rheological Structure at Depth: Potential Pitfalls, Uncertainty Estimates, and Improved Methodologies

Projects Under Development

Eastern California Shear Zone

• Postseismic Deformation Following the Lander's and Hector Mine Earthquakes

• Practical Comparison of Surface Wave Test Methods in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and Improvement of Multiple-Mode Inversion Algorithms
• Seismogenic Fault Geometry as a Function of Lower Crustal Weak Zone Geometry
• The Role of Postseismic Stress Recycling Within Intraplate Seismic Zones

• Finite Element Models of Stress Transfer Within Complex Multi-Fault Systems Over Multiple Earthquake Cycles

• Geodetic Monitering and Assessment of Subsidence Problems in the Eastern United States

Completed Research Projects
Northern California

• Time Dependence of the Stress Shadowing Effect and Its Relation to the Structure of the Lower Crust
• Postseismic Deformation Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
• Lower Crustal Structure in Northern California: Implications from Strain-Rate Variations Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

• A Mechanical Model for Intraplate Earthquakes: Application to the New Madrid Seismic Zone

GLY 110: Endangered Planet - Introduction to Environmental Geology
GLY 625: Special Topics in Geophysics: Behavior of Earth Materials

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