Research interests of Pamela Burnley

My research focuses on the mechanical behavior of rocks at high temperature and pressure and on the interaction between the processes of deformation and metamorphic reaction. I use high-pressure experimentation, in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy for analysis of samples, and numerical modeling. In combination, these research tools allow us to better understand the grain-scale processes that control the large-scale mechanical behavior of Earth’s materials including those exhibited in mantle convection and earthquakes. Current projects include study of quartz and olivine deformation using synchrotron x-ray diffraction, elastic plastic self consistent modeling of plastic deformation and finite element modeling of microstresses around included phases in minerals.

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