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Laboratory Seismology Group

In the Laboratory Seismology group we recognize that scientific innovation thrives when diverse perspectives and voices come together. Our lab is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, where every member—regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, or other identity—feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our collective goals.

We believe that diversity is not just a strength but a vital component of scientific excellence. It enhances our creativity, broadens the range of questions we ask, and enriches the solutions we develop.

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Current Group

Dr. Patrick Bianchi
ETH Zurich
Swiss Seismological Service
Sofia Michail
ETH Zurich
Swiss Seismological Service
Hao Chen
ETH Zurich
Swiss Seismological Service
Antonio Salazar Vásquez
ETH Zurich
University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland
Swiss Seismological Service

Dr. Patrick Bianchi (Group Graduate, Sept. 2024) link

"My research focuses on investigating potential precursory processes in rock deformation experiments by employing and developing state-of-the-art modeling and laboratory techniques. This research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms driving precursory signals associated with earthquake genesis and fault preparation, as well as the development of numerical models to assist researchers in assessing hazards in both natural and anthropogenic scenarios."

Award[s]

  • [2024] EGU OSPP, Presentation Title: "Exploring fault preparation and nucleation processes from the laboratory"

Sofia Michail link

"I study the transition in the seismogenic response of rocks during frictional tests due to wear, gouge deposition and interface smoothing. This strongly influences whether faults experience dynamic stick-slip. I use a dense array of fiber-optic strain measurements near the fault to study where strain is stored; in the gouge or in the host matrix. This appears to strongly affect fault stability. This work has implications in further understanding the mechanisms that promote earthquakes and weakening processes in nature."

Award[s]

  • [2024] EGU OSPP Award, Presentation Title: "Laboratory Insight into the Evolution of the Seismic Potential of an Asperity due to Wear"

  • [2022] AGU OSPA Presentation Title: "Laboratory Observations Linking Fault Surface Characteristics to the Onset and Evolution of Frictional Sliding and Off-fault Damage"

Hao Chen link

"Through laboratory experiments and advanced sensing techniques, my research focuses on understanding the development of local damage and stress evolution during the phase transition linked to earthquake generation. This phase transition process may deepen the analogy between earthquakes and self-organized criticality. Additionally, I aim to upscale my laboratory findings to enhance the understanding, assessment, and forecasting of natural earthquakes through numerical simulations."

Antonio Salazar Vásquez link

"My research specializes in the use of fiber optics to measure distributed strain in a variety of engineering applications. Part of this research has been to calibrate and understand the performance of fiber optics in triaxial rock deformation experiments. This technology has allowed me to image broad deformation of rock samples with dense spatial measurements. This, coupled with the study of acoustic emissions, allows me to develop a new understanding of the fracturing process and progressive damage that leads to brittle rock failure in the compressive regime."

Notable contribution[s]: Salazar Vásquez, A., Rabaiotti, C., Germanovich, L. N., & Puzrin, A. M. (2022). "Distributed fiber optics measurements of rock deformation and failure in triaxial tests." Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127, e2022JB023997. link

Main Collaborators

Dr. Claudio Madonna
ETH Zurich
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Prof. Dr. Stefan Wiemer
ETH Zurich
Swiss Seismological Service

Dr. Claudio Madonna link

Lecturer at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Leader of the Rock Physics and Mechanics Laboratory

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Prof. Dr. Stefan Wiemer link

Director of the Swiss Seismological Service and Professor of Seismology

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External Collaborators

Dr. Rui Wu
State Key Laboratory (SKL) of Intelligent Coal Mining and Strata Control
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McGill University

Dr. Rui Wu (Group Graduate 2022) link

Research scientist at the State Key Laboratory (SKL) of Intelligent Coal Mining and Strata Control, Beijing, China​​

"My academic background is multi-disciplined in Earth science, Petroleum Engineering, and Mining. I span broad fields of solid mechanics, non-destructive testing, geophysics, signal processing, and ultrasonic sensor development with a "can-do" attitude and strong problem-solving ability. My past research outputs have been published in the Geophysical Research Letters, the International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, among others."

Dr. Mehdi Nikkhoo link1 link2

Helmholtz Center Potsdam GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences ​

"I develop analytical and numerical models for crustal deformations and gravity changes due to magmatic and tectonic processes. I use the boundary element method to investigate the topographic and gravitational effects on the formation and temporal evolution of volcano deformation sources as well as the interactions between multiple sources in a uniform elastic medium. More recently, I use a thermodynamically-based visco-poroelastic damage model to study the brittle-ductile transition of porous rocks and magmas. The damage model allows me to account for nonlinear elastic effects and the spatiotemporal evolution of damage, inelastic porosity and irreversible deformations. Applying these models to surface deformation data, which are detected through various geodetic techniques, and using nonlinear optimization techniques I can infer the location, geometry and strength of the subsurface sources of deformation. These methods are being adapted to the laboratory and show promising insight into seismic and aseismic deformation of rock specimens with high-density fiber-optic surface strain measurements and acoustic emission measurements."

Noah Munro-Kagan (Bachelor student)

McGill University, Montreal, Canada

"I am a curious, creative and dedicated civil engineering student minoring in software engineering at McGill University. My diverse experiences range from implementing a neural network to detect micro-seismic events at ETH Zürich, to research in geomechanics with McGill University and even stand-up comedy at the Montreal Comedy Club. Additionally, I am passionate about my creative pursuits: short film directing, plant parenthood, tailoring and writing. This blend of technical proficiency, communication skills and creativity underlines my passion for knowledge and constant growth. I am always eager to explore new challenges, I thrive in environments that push the boundaries of learning and innovation."

Contact
Information

​Dr. Paul Antony Selvadurai 

ETH Zurich

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Institute of Geophysics

Swiss Seismological Service

Sonneggstrasse 5, NO H17

8092 Zurich, Switzerland

paul.selvadurai[at]sed.ethz.ch

+41 44 633 44 09

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Swiss Seismological Service
ETH Zurich
Swiss National Science Foundation
European Research Council

©2024 by Paul A. Selvadurai. Powered and secured by Wix

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