Joint research with University of Twente

JAMSTEC　Zhuyuan Lin

From Dec 1st 2025 to Feb 1st 2026, I worked with Professor Hongyang Cheng and Professor Vanessa Magnanimo at University of Twente in Netherlands.
The Soil Micro Mechanics group and Multi Scale Mechanics group work together to make use of different numerical methods from continuum to discrete across scales. We discussed about the usage of discrete element method in large-scale analog model. We focused on refining the method to obtain a continuum field and identification of shear localization and seismic event in discrete particle system. I learned about the latest work to unify the critical state soil mechanics with granular rheology. Comparison and connection between soil mechanics and rate-and-state friction will be part of the joint research in the future.
In January, I visited Professor André Niemeijer in University of Utrecht. He walked me through the latest testing apparatus for rock experiment, analog modelling, and direct shear setup with acoustic emission. I received valuable comments on the usage of discrete element method and the seamount modelling results when discussing with researchers from rock mechanics, numecial and analog modelling at the Earth Simulation Lab.
I want to thank the researchers, secretariats, and staff from slow-to-fast earthquake community and the hosting school to make this short visit possible. This experience helped to connect with researchers from different field and provide knowledge and new inspiration that are valuable for future studies.