Greg's research uses seismic waves to study the mechanics of friction, earthquakes, fracture, impact and other processes that generate sounds and vibrations in solids. Greg also specializes in piezoelectric sensors which are used to detect very high frequency but small amplitude vibrations in solid materials such as rock, metals, concrete, and plastic. These vibrations can be used for structural health monitoring or for detecting damage in buildings, bridges, and other civil infrastructure. Greg spent three years working at the USGS Earthquake Science Center in Menlo Park, California where he used these types of measurements to better understand the physics and mechanics of earthquake initiation and dynamic rupture. Greg's specific research topics include large-scale rock mechanics testing, seismology, the method of acoustic emission, and other nondestructive testing techniques.
