The Micromechanics of Granular Media (MGM)

Twin rovers success on Mars

Antoinette comments on the success of the twin rovers on the occasion of their 3rd birthday

Herald Sun Jan 20, 2006 (pdf 230 kB)

ARC Discovery project with APEC Cooperation in Earthquake Simulation (ACES)

Antoinette Tordesillas teams up with Prof. Peter Mora and Dr Fernando Alonso-Marroquin (ACES) on a project entitled "Micromechanical modelling of fault gouge dynamics: towards an improved fault constitutive relation."

The project integrates recent breakthroughs in discrete and continuum modelling of granular media with cutting edge developments in particle-based simulations of fault zone processes and statistical physics. The objective is to develop a sufficiently improved constitutive relation for fault zones to enable larger scale simulations of physics of faults and faul systems to achieve breakthroughs in answering the questions:

how do earthquakes nucleate and is short-term prediction a possibility,
how do multi-fault systems behave and do they generate detectable patterns in the lead-up to large earthquakes that would enable these to be forecast in the intermediate term.

Dr Antoinette Tordesillas with Fernando Alonso

International Summer School and Workshop: GRANULAR MATTER

Antoinette Tordesillas to co-host Granular Matter with Tomaso Aste at ANU.

PLACE: The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
DATE: 4 - 8 December 2006
WEBSITE: http://wwwrsphysse.anu.edu.au/granularmatter/
VIEW POSTER (pdf 1.2 MB)

Student testimonials and photos

6th Australian Mars Exploration Conference

Antoinette Tordesillas and Nana Liu to give a lecture "On the Importance of Granular Materials Research for Martian and Other Planetary Exploration."

Abstract: Solid Martian surfaces, like that on Earth, consist primarily of granular materials. These seemingly simple materials (when considered from a local perspective) masquerade their complexity in their macroscopic behaviour. Under varying conditions, they may readily enter into gas-like, fluid-like or solid-like states. This can present formidable hindrances for not only transportation across terrains, but also digging (mining, foundation work ... etc) for a long-term sustainment of life. Very brief descriptions of these materials and techniques of modelling will be discussed.

PLACE: Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC)
DATE: 13 - 15 October 2006
WEBSITE: http://www.marssociety.org.au/amec2006/amec2006.htm

Probing granular materials on Earth, Moon and Mars

Antoinette Tordesillas comments on the significance of Granular Materials Research in industry and in space exploration.

Scratching the surface of human life on the moon
The Age, September 29, 2006

NASA calls on Uni of Melb to probe Moon and Mars soil
UniNews, October 16, 2006

Mechanics of Granular Media (MGM) group at NASA

Go extraterrestrial with us and venture into a world where no undergraduate has gone before

Using models and simulations we will show you highlights of our NASA projects on the mathematical modelling and simulation of granular materials (e.g. grains, powders, sand, M&Ms etc). The lunar and martian "regolith", the technical term for lunar and martian soil, are ALL GRANULAR, existing in the form of powders and rocks. They are formed from pulverised pebbles and sand melted and glued together by falling meteorites reaching impact velocities of up to 160,000 km per hour and melting temperatures of up to 2000 degrees C.

And ... if you have ever wondered whether UNDERGRADUATE MATHS really is useful ... now is your chance to see it in action ... from Fourier series to topology ….. loads of vector analysis, continuum theory and statistical mechanics ... SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!

DATE: Friday 1st September, 2006
TIME: 1pm - 2pm
PLACE: Old Geology, Theater 1
SPEAKERS: Maya Muthuswamy & Antoinette Tordesillas
VIEW POSTER (pdf 6 MB)

NASA

Opportunity Mars Rover Stuck in Sand
SPACE.com

It's a dirty job, but NASA's got to do it
Soil research key to landings on moon, Mars
Florida Today

Other fun things to do with sand

Vision Australia Foundation Australian Sand Sculpting Championship 2006
Sand Sculpting Australia