Rachel Preca Trapani
Doctoral candidate
I am a PhD student from the small island of Malta and part of the Earthquake Physics research group in the Geophysics Department. I started my PhD in October 2023, focusing on integrating physics-based earthquake rupture models into seismic hazard assessment. Before starting my PhD, I obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geosciences and Physics from the University of Malta in 2022, followed by an M.Sc. in Solid Earth Sciences from the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) in 2023.
- 2022 Dean of Science Award Certificate of merit for a B.Sc. (Hons) final year dissertation of sufficiently high quality
- 2021/2022 Best Environmental Final Year Project for the academic year 2021/2022, sponsored by ERA
Research
My research interests focus on the physics governing earthquakes and the resulting ground motion, with the broader goal of better understanding these phenomena to enhance seismic hazard assessments. I'm particularly interested in exploring the physical mechanics behind damaging ground motions through physics-based numerical models, and in understanding how these can be integrated into seismic hazard assessment frameworks.
Physics-Based Earthquake Rupture Models for Seismic Hazard Assessment
My research is part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie TREAD project (8th of 11 PhD projects) funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme. I explore how on-fault structural and frictional complexities affect ground motion using 3D dynamic rupture simulations with SeisSol. A key focus is understanding long-period near-fault directivity pulses, often called 'killer pulses' for the severe damage they can cause to multi-storey and high-rise buildings. I also study how these complexities influence off-fault plastic deformation and whether this reflects natural observations. Furthermore, I aim to assess whether these physics-based simulations can complement traditional seismic hazard assessment approaches. My PhD is supervised by Alice-Agnes Gabriel (Scripps, UCSD) and Mathilde Marchandon (LMU), in collaboration with Yann Klinger (IPGP), Oona Scotti and Sébastien Hok (ASNR). The project runs from 2023 to 2026 and can be followed on https://tread-horizon.eu/ and its socials.
Working in project TREAD (EU, 2023 - 2026)