Lauren Talbot
Ph.D. Graduate
Email: lauren.talbot ‘at’ berkeley ‘dot’ edu
Lauren is a PhD graduate from the Soga Research Group at Berkeley. Her research area is computational geomechanics, with a focus on the Material Point Method (MPM). Lauren’s work involves developing new features for the Berkeley Geomechanics MPM code and applying MPM to model large-deformation geotechnical problems, including embankment dam failures and landslides.
Lower San Fernando Dam Failure
This project involves an improved large-deformation model for the well-known case study of the Lower San Fernando Dam Failure. The model is able to capture accurate upstream runout, remaining heel scarp, and post-failure cross-sectional shape. Highlights include shear banding development and initiation, interaction of the leading toe mass with the upstream reservoir bottom, and blocky features.
Improved Levelset-Barrier Method
This project involves development of a nonconforming interface method in MPM: the improved levelset-barrier method. Used for applying Dirichlet boundaries with complex geometry, this method includes several new contact conditions and improves upon accuracy, precision, and convergence rate, relative to the original method.
Visualization
To facilitate sharing and communication of scientific results, Lauren uses the VFX software Houdini to create realistic visualizations of MPM simulations.
Links & Publications
- Berkeley Geomechanics MPM Code: https://github.com/geomechanics/mpm
- Talbot, L.E.D. (2025). Geo-Interface Modeling in the Material Point Method [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations/docview/3257291348
- Talbot, L. E. D., Given, J., Tjung, E. Y., Liang, Y., Chowdhury, K., Seed, R., & Soga, K. (2024). Modeling large-deformation features of the Lower San Fernando Dam failure with the Material Point Method. Computers and Geotechnics, 165, 105881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105881