PhD position, project: EEASY: Experimental Earthquake Strike-slip Fault Systems

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PhD position, project: EEASY: Experimental Earthquake Strike-slip Fault Systems

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Job description

Offer DescriptionContext and pertinenceLarge continental strike-slip earthquakes (e.g.: the 2023 Mw 7.8 Turkey earthquake) produce spectacular surface deformations and destructions that are currently increasing because of new urban areas. A better understanding of the dynamics of earthquakes is necessary to improve the assessment of seismic hazard, and reduce the impact of such events. The EEASY project aims to develop innovative seismogenic laboratory scaled physical models of strike-slip tectonics in order to identify the physical parameters controlling surface ruptures and their links to seismic processes at depth. Part of the challenge consists in producing high resolution observations of the dynamic deformation of the surface, a key ingredient to better understand earthquake mechanics and rupture evolution in a continental faulting context.We can currently produce experimental seismic events over hundreds of seismic cycles, but they need to be characterized in detail, and under various experimental conditions. We also intend to equip the box with sensors for seismological analysis during experiments. The experimental program, constituting the core part of the EEASY project, addresses several fundamental questions, which will be addressed in this PhD thesis, but also in several Master level six months internships during the PhD period:How does the co-seismic deformation evolve during earthquakes? Is it impacted by the basal fault shape, by a convergent or divergent kinematic component at depth, by the state of stress?All these questions in turn raise methodological challenges:Can we record the stress variations in the granular material? Can we record the seismic radiation with acoustic sensors to produce seismic data that can further be analysed like, and be compared to, natural seismicity data? More generally, can we produce strike-slip co-seismic surface accelerations, velocities and finite displacements in laboratory scale models that verify the similarity conditions?Methods and expertiseThe GEC laboratory has recently acquired a high-speed camera to obtain high-resolution observations in both time and space of the surface displacements during seismic events. In combination with this camera, we will use optical image correlation and stereo-photogrammetry (MicMac software developed for satellite data analysis) to estimate the horizontal and vertical surface displacement field.The ambition is also to record the elastic waves propagation signals during the experiments. This will be achieved by implementing an automated monitoring system based on a network of accelerometric sensors distributed at the edges of the box. The proposed approach will allow, on the one hand, the comparison of results with real seismograms, which will help to validate the different tested analogue models. On the other hand, the aim is to develop reconstruction algorithms that will enable detection, localization and potentially characterization of the fault.RequirementsResearch Field Geosciences » Geology Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsThe candidate must have a good knowledge of seismic engineering, geology and geophysics, at Master’s level. He must also have programming language skills and knowledge of signal processing.Specific RequirementsThe candidate must have a good knowledge of seismic engineering, geology and geophysics, at Master’s level. He must also have programming language skills and knowledge of signal processing.Languages FRENCH Level GoodLanguages ENGLISH Level GoodResearch Field Geosciences » GeologyInternal Application form(s) neededPHD_project_EEASY.pdfEnglish(646.1 KB – PDF)Additional InformationWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute CY CERGY PARIS UNIVERSITY Country France City Cergy-Pontoise Postal Code 95000 GeofieldWhere to apply E-mailpauline.souloumiac@cyu.frContact State/ProvinceIle de france CityCergy-Pontoise Cedex WebsiteStreet33 Boulevard du Port Postal Code95011 E-Mailpauline.souloumiac@cyu.frSTATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Pontoise, Val-d’Oise – Cergy, Val-d’Oise

Job date

Wed, 01 May 2024 07:20:24 GMT

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