John W. Handin Laboratory for Experimental Rock Deformation

• 500-ton servo-controlled, electrohydraulic testing machine capable of deforming 2.5 by 6 cm cylindrical specimens in triaxial compression under controlled loading/deformation histories and Argon confining pressures and liquid pore fluid pressures to 1200 MPa and temperatures to 1200 C.
• 150-ton servo-controlled, electrohydraulic testing machine capable of deforming samples up to 2.5 cm diameter under confining pressures to 300 MPa and temperatures to 300 C. The system has a pore-fluid flow-through capability. Both digital and analog data acquisition.
• 200-ton, variable strain-rate, triaxial-compression apparatus for tests on specimens up to 5 cm diameter and 20 cm length at strain rates from 10-3 to 10-8 sec-1 at confining and pore-fluid pressures to 300 MPa at room temperature. System is capable of concurrent elastic-wave velocity measurement and measurement of permeability using the transient-pulse technique.

• Two 100-ton, variable strain-rate, triaxial compression systems for deforming 10 by 20 cm cylindrical specimens at confining and pore pressure to 70 MPa, temperatures to 150 C, and strain rates from 10-3 to 10-9 sec-1.
• Variable strain-rate, triaxial compression apparatus for deformation of 1 by 2 cm cylindrical specimens at confining and pore pressures to 1000 MPa, temperatures to 1000 C and strain rates from 10-3 to 10-8 sec-1.
• Two 10-ton, variable strain-rate, triaxial systems (Heard rigs) for deformation of 2.5 by 6 cm specimens at confining and pore pressures to 300 MPa, temperatures to 300 C and strain rates from 10-3 to 10-8 sec-1. One system is capable of measuring permeability using the transient-pulse technique.
• Two Griggs-Blacic solid-pressure medium systems for deformation of 6 by 15 mm specimens at confining pressures to 2000 MPa, temperatures to 1500 C, and strain rates from 10-3 to 10-8 sec-1.
• Griggs, solid-pressure-medium, multiple anvil "cubic" apparatus capable of confining pressures to 7000 MPa and temperatures to 1600 C.

Other Facilities

Digital data acquisition and Computer Equipment: Four mobile, networked PCs each having a Data Translation high-speed, high resolution A/D acquisition board, HP VEE with DT VPI acquisition software, and UPS. Acoustic emission recording and counting system. Tectonophysics computer laboratory containing a several Macintosh, PC and Sun computers, printers, scanner, slide maker, etc.

Microstructure Laboratory: Seven research quality microscopes and two photomicroscopes equipped with universal stages. Nicolet infra-red (FTIR) spectrometer for trace water analyses. The Department has: 1) a four-spectrometer Cameca SX50 electron microprobe and SEM equipped with a PGT energy dispersive system and a dedicated Sun workstation; 2) Rigaku computerized x-ray diffractometer and a Norelco diffractometer, which has a pole-figure device and residual-strain determination device. High resolution SEM, TEM and atomic force microscope facilities are available at Texas A&M Electron Microscopy Center.

Photomechanical and Physical Modeling Laboratory: Chapman 40-cm clear field and photoelastic 30-cm diffused light source polariscopes, several straining frames, and hydraulic loading devices. Aluminum strain frame with lateral and basal displacement boundary condition controlled using three screw-driven pistons.

Experimental Petrology Laboratory for Fluid/Rock Interaction: 1) Five large volume, highly corrosion resistant, flow-through hydrothermal systems allowing long-term concurrent monitoring of pore-fluid chemistry and volumetric strain. 2) A highly corrosion resistant, flow-through permeability system for long-term experiments at temperatures to 300 C, confining pressures to 200 MPa and fluid pressures to 20 MPa; permeability changes are monitored continuously during flow.

Petrophysical Properties Laboratory: Facilities for measuring elastic P- and S-wave velocities at confining pressures and pore-fluid pressures to 300 MPa; bar velocity and quality factor measurements using resonance techniques; Nitrogen permeameter and Helium porosimeter.

Truck-mounted diamond core drill rig: Longyear 44 diamond core rig with hydraulic drill mast mounted on Dodge D-900 tandem truck; capable of wireline coring of HX and NX core to depths of 1000 ft.

Sample Preparation Facilities: Diamond coring, diamond cut-off saws, surface grinder for preparation of specimens; controlled humidity chamber; vacuum impregnator; Gatan dual ion-milling device for preparation of specimens for electron microscopy.

Machine shop and Electronics Laboratory: An assortment of machining equipment (e.g., lathes, mills, drill press, band saw) and electronic fabrication and testing supplies and equipment.