Research Interest

My research focuses on understanding the role of grain boundaries in deformation and fluid percolation in high-grade quartzofeldspathic rocks, with particular emphasis on the ultra–high temperature (UHT) terranes of the southern Eastern Ghats Province (sEGP), India. These terranes record some of the most extreme metamorphic conditions known from the continental crust, yet the microstructural controls on their mechanical and hydrological behavior remain insufficiently understood. The primary objective is to investigate how grain boundary networks evolve under UHT conditions and how these networks influence both strain accommodation and fluid migration at deep crustal levels. Special attention is given to the characterization of Dauphiné twin boundaries (DTBs) in quartz and their interactions with random high-angle grain boundaries (RHAGBs), as these features may significantly modify microstructural stability and fluid pathways. To achieve this, my approach integrates multiple scales of investigation. Field-based structural analysis provides the geological context and deformation history. Laboratory-based techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction (SEM–EBSD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), are employed to document grain boundary geometries, misorientation patterns, and nanoscale boundary structures. These observations are complemented by numerical simulations using the ELLE–Viscoplastic Full-Field Transform (VPFFT) platform to explore the mechanical implications of different grain boundary configurations and slip system interactions. This integrated methodology is designed to establish quantitative links between grain boundary structures, deformation processes, and fluid flow behavior in UHT metamorphic terranes. The ultimate aim is to provide a framework for understanding how microstructural networks control crustal rheology in extreme metamorphic environments.