Russell Keanini

Current Research (2026):
Mineral- to tectonic-scale rock fracture:  Rock fracture, and particularly earthquake-producing tectonic rupture, represents a grand challenge problem whose complexity has defied predictive, physics-based explanation.  In collaboration with Professor Missy Eppes, we are extending traditional microscale statistical mechanics to build a predictive, statistical mechanical theory of stress-driven rock fracture, taking place on all length and energy scales (2022-present). 
Single molecule dynamics in liquids:  We're continuing to work out statistical mechanical models of the equilibrium and nonequilibrium dynamics of single, liquid-state molecules, focusing most recently on polar liquids (2024-present).  

Lecture Notes: This site archives lecture notes I've generated over the years and want to maintain personal and public access to. Although the notes are rough, particularly the statistical mechanics material, my hope is that they'll be useful to students. The challenges of studying fluid mechanics and statistical mechanics are rewarded professionally (maybe) but almost certainly personally (see below).   The traits needed to build skill - traits that can be developed over time - include a willingness to learn and practice a few key (mathematical) arguments and derivations, as well as a commitment to learn and practice the art of order of magnitude analysis ('thought experiments').  As I tell my students, the learning process mirrors learning a musical instrument: lots of (focused) practice and reflection.  Building your skill can (and should) be done over years and even decades - a stop-start approach works, for sure.  The (big) personal payoff - the feeling of starting to master a difficult subject - happens all the time as you practice.