Title of research project: Reconstruction of tectonic stress and strain in earthquake prone regions

Reference number of grant: N8A000

Period of performance: 1994 to 1996

Principal Investigator: Dr. B. Bukchin

Total funds: US$ 7,758

Summary:

The interrelated fields of tectonic stress and strain are a basic characteristic of the lithosphere reflecting as they do its multiscale dynamics, structure, physical state and material composition. The project addressed development of statistical techniques of reconstruction of these fields based on the theory and mathematical modeling of nonlinear lithosphere dynamics. As a result, significant progress was achieved in the following: study of tectonic stress and strain fields in relation to seismicity during the precursory period of a large earthquake; study of kinematics and dynamics for the continental boundaries of microplates.