Rheology and Microstructure Group

Small-scale physical and chemical processes influence all large-scale phenomena in the Earth, and our research focuses on these links. In particular, the Microstructures Research Group headed by Sandra Piazolo (link) investigates rock deformation mechanisms, rheology, texture and microstructure. Particular research themes include: high and medium temperature grain-scale and intra- grain scale deformation processes: the resultant microstructures and textures in rocks, ceramics and metals; annealing processes in moderately to highly deformed rocks and metals and the application of microstructural investigations as a tool to understand large scale processes. The development of innovative cutting-edge analysis techniques and the combination of field observations, numerical simulations and experiments is a key feature of this group.