FIND RUPTURE is a research project supported by VW foundation.

The key scientific question is:  What is the impact of the fast (<1 second) compression and decompression of supercritical fluids on mineral dissolution and precipitation during rupturing (e.g. seismic events or engineering material failure). 

In other words, we test how the quick expansion and compaction of fluids (related to rupture processes under high pressure) affects the dissolution and precipitation of minerals. In addition, we want to explore if commonly used engineering materials (e.g. ceramics) are subject similar effects.

Unique approach: We are developing a new experimental set-up attached to the piston-cylinder apparatus to systematically preform pressure jumps in a controlled manner, to generate a database that allows understanding this phenomenon.

Relevance & Perspective: Experimentally investigating this mechanism may lead to improvements of earthquake risk assessments by complementing the existing physical framework used for quantification of rupture processes.

Furthermore, understanding the fluid-mineral interaction during instantaneous decompression, may lead to the development of innovative manufacturing techniques. We envision new shaping/drilling techniques for heavy-duty ceramics and micro-scale additive manufacturing of layered materials (e.g. resistive coatings).

They wrote about this project: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/newsroom/fluid-mineral-interactions-in-rock