LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Fault and Crustal Mechanics Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab explores earthquakes and rock deformation through experiments, field surveys, and theory.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading earthquakes and crustal deformation from the deformation of rocks.
The Fault and Crustal Mechanics Lab studies earthquakes and rock deformation.
Earthquakes and crustal deformation are complex deformation processes of the crust that occur in non-equilibrium systems, where energy is not conserved.
By combining mathematical-physical theory, laboratory rock experiments, and field geological surveys, the lab links the deformation of rocks and minerals to crustal deformation and seismic activity across the Japanese Islands.
The lab also studies the relationship between fluctuations in atmospheric radon concentration and earthquakes, as well as the postseismic deformation that follows major earthquakes.
Key terms
- Radon
- A radioactive element. Its concentration in the atmosphere has been reported to fluctuate before earthquakes.
- Postseismic deformation
- Slow deformation of the ground and crust that continues after a large earthquake.
- Fractal geometry
- A branch of mathematics that deals with intricate shapes in which similar patterns appear again no matter how much they are magnified.
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received the Student Outstanding Presentation Award at the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2026
Research by doctoral students and others that found graphene oxide in an active fault was published in Nature Communications
Research by doctoral students and others that connects glass, from its small fluctuations to its yielding, under a single theory was published in Physical Review Letters
Research by Prof. Nagahama and colleagues showing that "giant wrinkles" in rock strata increase crustal strength was published in Scientific Reports
A doctoral student received the Student Outstanding Presentation Award at the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2025
ResearchResearch themes
Earthquakes and crustal deformation are complex deformation processes of the Earth that occur in non-equilibrium systems, where energy is not conserved. The lab aims to build a connected understanding that runs from the elementary processes of rock and mineral deformation, through the formation of faults and shear zones, to crustal deformation across the Japanese Islands.
*Illustrative imageExperiments on Rock Deformation and Friction
Through experiments in which rocks are made to flow, fracture, and slide against each other, together with various analyses and measurements, the lab clarifies the elementary processes by which the crust and rocks deform.
*Illustrative imageField Surveys and Observations
Based on field surveys and observations, the lab works to understand how the crust and rocks deform and how they behave.
*Illustrative imageModeling Deformation with Mathematical Physics
Using knowledge from mathematical physics, such as differential geometry, fractal geometry, and the discrete and finite element methods, the lab models the deformation behavior of the crust and rocks.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Fault and Crustal Mechanics Lab are faculty and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiroyuki Nagahama
- ProfessorNorihiro Nakamura
- ProfessorJun Muto
- Assistant ProfessorSando Sawa
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Fault and Crustal Mechanics Lab
Natural Disaster Science LabFaculty of Science, Department of Environmental GeosciencesElucidating mechanisms and assessing hazards of disaster-ind…
Geomorphology and Physical Geography LabFaculty of Science, Department of Environmental GeosciencesDevelopmental history and formation processes of river, coas…
Geology and Paleoceanography LabFaculty of Science, Department of Environmental GeosciencesReconstruction of paleoenvironmental change based on field s…
Crustal Evolution LabFaculty of Science, Department of Environmental GeosciencesStudy of the materials that make up orogenic belts (petrolog…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Fault Zone - geograph.org.uk - 8323129” Anne Burgess / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Experiments on Rock Deformation and Friction: “CSIRO ScienceImage 11125 The high pressure triaxial cell for measuring rock strength” Darryl Peroni, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Field Surveys and Observations: “Fault gouge (San Andreas Fault Zone, Mecca Hills, Riverside County, California, USA) )” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Modeling Deformation with Mathematical Physics: “Example finite element mesh, for illustrating the concept” SamitchSandia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Natural Disaster Science Lab): “Fault scarp a Quake Lake 19970627” Jstuby / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Geomorphology and Physical Geography Lab): “Sydney (AU), Coastal Cliff Walk” Dietmar Rabich / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Geology and Paleoceanography Lab): “Kilve Beach Rock Formation - geograph.org.uk - 229528” Rob Farrow / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Crustal Evolution Lab): “Photomicrograph of rock thin section Gabbroic inclusion” Christopher Nye / Public domain (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.