Studying the Interconnectedness of Energy Release
Our research reveals that tiny disturbances can ignite system‑wide fracture events, echoing patterns seen in real seismicity.
Delving into the Depths
The Geomechanics and Damage Group (GeoD) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison investigates Earth materials to better understand geologic behavior and support data‑driven engineering design. Students play a central role, gaining hands‑on experience with core analysis, field methods, and modern modeling tools that prepare them for impactful careers in geoscience and engineering.
Uncovering the Subsurface with STRIDE
The STRIDE Consortium, led by GeoD leader Jesse Hampton, uses advanced remote-sensing and data science methods to globally foster technological advancements from micro-to field-scale—all with the goal of reducing uncertainty, risk, and cost of global subsurface engineering.
Empowering El Pericón with Clean, Reliable Water
We partnered with Engineers Without Borders–UW Madison to help design a sustainable water distribution system for a community that has sought dependable access for over two decades.
Madison, WI
The changing seasons in many ways define life in Wisconsin, and in Madison we find creative ways to get the most out of each one. Built on an isthmus and surrounded by lakes, Madison blends the city and campus, green spaces and urban areas, to create a place unlike anywhere else.
Jesse Hampton
Assistant Professor
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Driving Discovery in Geomechanics, Damage, and Subsurface Engineering
Professor Jesse Hampton leads the research in the Geomechanics and Damage Group (GeoD) at UW-Madison. GeoD studies both fundamental and applied topics in damage mechanics, nondestructive evaluation, geomechanics, and geophysics. The main objectives of GeoD are to address fundamental issues in geological engineering as applied to geothermal, oil and gas, energy/waste/CO2 storage, and induced seismicity. This is accomplished through a multidisciplinary and multiscale approach, with a focus on the role and impact of physical properties and damage on material and structural behavior. Experimental, data science, remote sensing, and numerical investigation techniques are leveraged in these efforts.
Latest news
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GeoD Team Works with DoD and NPS to Understand Historic Structure Deformation via Fiber Optics
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Ellie Johnson Receives Best Poster Award at Midwest Machine Learning Symposium
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Prof. Hampton Earns the Outstanding Student Org Advisor Award for EWB-UW
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Prof. Hampton Earns the Early Career Keynote Lecture at ARMA 2024
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Prof. Hampton Earns the Rock Mechanics Research Award
Leading Engineering Students in Global, Humanitarian Efforts
Assistant Professor Jessie Hampton is the faculty advisor of the Engineers Without Boarders–UW Madison chapter, providing technical guidance on the El Pericón water project. Drawing on his expertise in geomechanics and engineering design, he helps students strengthen their analyses and develop reliable, sustainable solutions for the community’s long‑term water needs. His mentorship connects classroom learning with real‑world global engineering impact.