Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

Thursday, April 28, 2022

11:00am to 12:00pm

Gates-Thomas 135

Robert C. Viesca, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University,

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar Series

Title: Friction and fraction as an applied-mathematics sandbox

Abstract: We'll delve into a few fundamental but seemingly esoteric problems in fracture mechanics and highlight how these problems require the application of mathematics not customarily associated with pure solid mechanics. These problems include (i) the transient evolution of stable frictional sliding, (ii) mode-I crack-front deformation in heterogeneous media and (iii) the nucleation of dynamic frictional ruptures. We'll highlight, for instance, how problems (i) and (ii) are mathematically similar and how all of (i-iii) have comparable problems in fluid dynamics, and beyond.

Bio: Robert C. Viesca is currently an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Tufts University. Previously, he was a postdoctoral scholar at Dalhousie University working with Dmitry I. Garagash and a Ph.D. student in Engineering Sciences at Harvard University with James R. Rice.

NOTE: At this time, in-person Mechanical and Civil Engineering Lectures are open to all Caltech students/staff/faculty/visitors with a valid Caltech ID.

For more information, please contact Stacie Takase by phone at (626) 395-3389 or by email at [email protected] or visit https://www.mce.caltech.edu/seminars.

Event Series

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar Series

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