Lawrence A. Hanson, Jr., Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Geophysics
Dipl., Kiev State University, 1994; M.S., Harvard University, 1996; Ph.D., 2001. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Caltech, 2002-03; Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Geophysics, 2003-08; Associate Professor, 2008-10; Professor, 2010-19; Hanson Professor, 2019-.
Research interests: fracture and frictional processes, computational mechanics, failure of geomaterials in the presence of fluids, physics of earthquakes, induced seismicity
Overview
Professor Lapusta studies friction and fracture phenomena on both fundamental and practical levels. Her work focuses on analytical and numerical modeling that incorporates and explains experimental findings. She has a special interest in failure of geomaterials in the presence of fluids, physics of earthquakes, and induced seismicity, where frictional faulting and cracking are key ingredients.
Research Website