Phone: 979.845.3297
Fax: 979.845.6162
duan@geo.tamu.edu
US Mail


Dr. Benchun Duan

Assistant Professor

Ph.D. Geological Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 2006.

M.S. Applied Geophysics, Ocean University of China, 1994.

B.S. Applied Geophysics, Ocean University of China, 1991.

Research specialty: earthquake physics

Bio

Dr. Duan's current research interests focus on earthquake source physics, particularly earthquake rupture dynamics on geometrically and materially complex fault systems, and extend to physics-based strong ground motion prediction and physics-based seismic hazard analysis. He has developed (and validated) an explicit Finite Element Method code (EQdyna) and has successfully applied it to explore the effects of complex fault geometry (e.g., bends, steps, and branches) on earthquake rupture initiation, propagation, and termination. Recently, Dr. Duan is working on incorporating off-fault nonlinear responses (e.g., plastic yielding, open cracks, and damage rheology) into dynamic rupture models to examine their effects on rupture propagation and near-source ground motion. The technique in modeling spontaneous generation and propagation of secondary cracks has an application potential in oil industry. He is also interested in unifying the dynamic model and the quasi-static deformation model to study earthquake cycles in complex fault systems. Students with a strong geophysical/mechanical background can find opportunities in combining development of new code components with exploration of new scientific and practical problems, while students with a strong geological background may devote to many unsolved scientific questions by merging numerical models with field and lab observations.

Research

  • Earthquake source physics
  • Earthquake rupture dynamics on geometrically and materially complex fault systems
  • Physics-based strong ground motion prediction
  • Physics-based seismic hazard analysis

Projects

  • Elastoplastic Dynamics of Non-Planar Faults
  • Spontaneous Dynamic Rupture Propagation with Off-fault Tensile Crack Generation and Damage Rheology and the Effects on Ground Motion
  • Physical Limits on Extreme Ground Motion
  • Physics-based Strong Ground Motion Prediction and Large-scale Parallel Computing
  • Multi-cycle Dynamics of Geometrically Complex Fault Systems

Courses

  • GEOP 681: Earthquake Source Modeling
  • GEOP 660: Physics of the Earth's Interior

Experience

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, August 2007 - Present
  • Post-doctoral researcher, San Diego State University, July 2006 - July 2007
  • Graduate Student Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, September 2001 - June 2006
  • Researcher and Lecturer, Ocean University of China, July 1994 - August 2001

Publications

  • Duan, B., and S. M. Day (2007), Modeling off-fault plastic yielding during dynamic rupture, in preparation.
  • Duan, B., and D. D. Oglebsy (2007). Nonuniform prestress from prior earthquakes and the effect on dynamics of branched fault systems, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B05308, doi:10.1029/2006JB004443.
  • Duan, B., and D. D. Oglesby (2006). Heterogeneous fault stresses from previous earthquakes and the effect on dynamics of parallel strike-slip faults, J. Geophys. Res., 111, B05309, doi:10.1029/2005JB004138.
  • Duan, B., and D. D. Oglesby (2005). The dynamics of thrust and normal faults over multiple earthquake cycles: effects of dipping fault geometry, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 95 (5), pp. 1623-1636, doi: 10.1785/0120040234.
  • Duan, B., and D. D. Oglesby (2005). Multicycle dynamics of nonplanar strike-slip faults, J. Geophys. Res., 110, B03304, doi:10.1029/2004JB003298.

Awards

  • MiniGrant (UC Riverside, 2003) for graduate students presenting results based on original research in professional conferences.
  • Science and Technology Achievement Award (Ocean Univ. of China, 1998) for the excellent work on the project processing and interpretation of high-resolution aeromagnetic data (the first person in charge).
  • Science and Technology Achievement Award (Ocean Univ. of China, 1998) for the excellent work on the project underground water prospecting for the vegetable base of WANSHIDA Corporation of Qingdao (the first person in charge).
  • Outstanding Paper Award (Ocean Univ. of China, 1995) on the paper the application of optimized wave number to direct calculation of point source two-dimensional finite element, Geophysical & Geochemical Exploration 18(3), 186~191, 1994 (in Chinese) by Duan, B., and Y. Zhu.
  • Science and Technology Achievement Award (Ocean Univ. of China, 1993) for the excellent work on the project study on application of electrical survey to underground mineral water in Qingdao (the third person in charge).

Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact duan@geo.tamu.edu.

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