APPLIED STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY GROUP

Structures and deformation are critical to understanding the behavior under stress. While slow deformation relates to tectonics, fast deformation is seen in the case of impact craters, landslides and supershears. In a meteoritic impact, shock waves cause intense deformation at gigapascal peak pressures and extremely high strain rates. The applied structural group, led by Dr. Amar Agarwal, investigates this deformation. We use standard techniques such as field studies, microstructural analysis, and rock magnetic investigations (magnetic mineralogy, magnetic fabrics, and palaeomagnetism). This is coupled with various innovative investigative techniques like high-speed deformation experiments, mathematical modelling and hydrocode simulations. Our group has been working on problems of tectonic and structural evolution, and of high-speed deformation due to natural and other shock waves.