Dr. Benchun Duan

Bio

Dr. Duan's current research interests focus on earthquake source physics, particularly earthquake rupture dynamics on geometrically complex fault systems within complex geologic structures, and extend to physics-based strong ground motion prediction and seismic hazard analysis. He has developed an explicit Finite Element Method code (EQdyna) and has applied it to explore physical controls on earthquake dynamic rupture propagation, response of fault zones to nearby earthquakes, and physical limits on ground motion. Collaborating with colleagues in computer science, he parallelizes EQdyna using a hybrid MPI/OpenMP approach to make use of modern computer clusters. He is also interested in unifying the dynamic model and the quasi-static deformation model to study earthquake cycles in realistically complex fault systems, and seismic & geomechanical modeling for reservoir characterization.

Research Interests

• Earthquake Source Physics
• Rupture Dynamics of Geometrically Complex Faults and Recent Large Earthquakes
• Physics-based Ground Motion Prediction and Seismic Hazard Analysis
• Finite Element Methods and Hybrid MPI/OpenMP Parallel Computing
• Earthquake Cycle Simulations of Complex Fault Systems
• Seismic Wave Propagation and Geomechanical Modeling

Projects

• National Science Foundation (NSF), EAR-1049834, PI. Collaborative Research: Controls on Termination of great earthquakes in a restraining double-bend of the Altyn Tagh fault, April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2014.
• NSF, EAR-1015597, PI. Investigation of complex rupture processes in the 2008 M8 Wenchuan earthquake using dynamic source models, October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2012. 
• NSF/USGS (SCEC), PI. A collaborative project: Rupture dynamics, validation of the numerical simulation method, February 1, 2008 - January 31, 2012.
• NSF/USGS (SCEC), PI. Dynamic rupture modeling of M6.5 normal faulting scenarios (ExGM special project - 100runs), March 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012.
• NSF/USGS (SCEC), PI. Theoretical investigation of response of damaged fault zones to nearby earthquake ruptures, February 1, 2010 - January 31, 2011.
• NSF/USGS (SCEC), PI. The effect of off-fault damage on dynamics of parallel strike-slip faults, February 1, 2010 - January 31, 2011.
• NSF, EAR-0809571, PI. Collaborative Research: Integrating observations of low-velocity fault zones with models of spontaneous dynamic earthquake ruptures, September 1, 2008 - August 31, 2010.
• USGS (NEHRP program), 08HQGR0048, PI. Spontaneous dynamic rupture propagation with off-fault plastic yielding, tensile crack generation, and damage rheology and the effects on ground motion, February 1, 2008 - January 31, 2010.

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. (2011), Reply to comment by Y. Fialko on "Deformation of compliant fault zones induced by nearby earthquakes: Theoretical investigation in two dimensions", J. Geophys. Res., 116, B12302, doi:10.1029/2011JB008567.
• Duan, B., J. Kang, and Y. Li (2011), Deformation of compliant fault zones induced by nearby earthquakes: Theoretical investigation in two dimensions, J. Geophys. Res., 116, B03307, doi:10.1029/2010JB007826.
• Wu, X., B. Duan, and V. Taylor (2011), Parallel simulations of dynamic earthquake rupture along geometrically complex faults on CMP systems, J. Algorithm and Computational Technology, 5(2), 313-340.
• Lozos, J. C., D. D. Oglesby, B. Duan, and S. G. Wesnousky (2011), The effects of double fault bends on rupture propagation: A geometrical parameter study, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 101(1), 385-398, doi:10.1785/0120100029.
• Harris, R. A., M. Barall, D. J. Andrews, B. Duan, S. Ma, E. M. Dunham, A. -A. Gabriel, Y. kaneko, Y. Kase, B. T. Aagaard, D. D. Oglesby, J. -P. Ampuero, T. C. Hanks, and N. Abrahamson (2011), Verifying a computational method for predicting extreme ground motion, Seism. Res. Lett., vol. 82, No. 5, 638-644, doi:10.1785/gssrl.85.5.638.
• Duan, B., and S. M. Day (2010), Sensitivity study of physical limits on ground motion at Yucca Mountain, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 100 (6), 2996-3019, doi:10.1785/0120090372.
• Duan, B. (2010b), Inelastic response of compliant fault zones to nearby earthquakes, Geophys. Res. Lett., L16303, doi:10.1029/2010GL044150. (Chosen by AGU editors as an AGU "Research Spotlight".)
• Duan, B. (2010a), Role of initial stress rotations in rupture dynamics and ground motion: A case study with implications for the Wenchuan earthquake, J. Geophys. Res., 115, B05301, doi:10.1029/2009JB006750.
• Wu, X., B. Duan, and V. Taylor (2009), An OpenMP approach to modeling dynamic earthquake rupture along geometrically complex faults on CMP systems, in Proceedings of the 38th International Conference on Parallel Processing Workshops, Edited by L. Barolli and W.-C.Feng, pp.146-153,IEEE Comput. Soc., Washington, D. C.
• Harris, R. A., M. Barall, R. Archuleta, E. Dunham, B. Aagaard, J. P. Ampuero, H. Bhat, V. Cruz-Atienza, L. Dalguer, P. Dawson, S. Day, B. Duan, G. Ely, Y. Kaneko, Y. Kase, N. Lapusta, Y. Liu, S. Ma, D. Oglesby, K. Olsen, A. Pitarka, S. Song, and E. Templeton (2009), The SCEC/USGS dynamic earthquake-rupture code verification exercise, Seismol. Res. Lett., Vol. 80, No. 1, 119-126, doi:10.1785/gssrl.80.1.119.
• Duan, B., and S. M. Day (2008), Inelastic strain distribution and seismic radiation from rupture of a fault kink, J. Geophys. Res., 113, B12311,doi:10.1029/2008JB005847.
• Duan, B. (2008b), Asymmetric off-fault damage generated by bilateral ruptures along a bimaterial interface, Geophy. Res. Lett., 35, L14306, doi:10.1029/2008GL034797.
• Duan, B. (2008a), Effects of low-velocity fault zones on dynamic ruptures with nonelastic off-fault response, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L04307, doi:10.1029/2008GL033171.
• Duan, B., and D. D. Oglesby (2007), Nonuniform prestress from prior earthquakes and the effects 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), Multicycle dynamics of nonplanar strike-slip faults, J. Geophys. Res., 110, B03304, doi:10.1029/2004JB003298.
• Duan, B., and D. D. Oglesby (2005), The dynamics of thrust and normal faults over multiple earthquake cycles: Effects of dipping fault geometry, Bull. Seismo. Soc. Am., 95(5), pp.1623-1636, doi:10.1785/0120040234.
• Xu, S., B. Duan, and D. Zhang (2000), Selection of the wavenumbers k using an optimization method for the inverse Fourier transform in 2.5D electrical modeling, Geophysical Prospecting, 48(5), 789-796.

Awards

• Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty Research (College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University, 2010).
• 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), Processing and Interpretation of High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data (the first person in charge).
• Science and Technology Achievement Award (Ocean Univ. of China, 1998), 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), 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), Study on Application of Electrical Survey to Underground Mineral Water in Qingdao (the third person in charge).

Professional Associations

• American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Seismological Society of America (SSA)
• Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)