Fault mechanics is a branch of geophysics and geology that focuses on the study of the behavior and properties of faults in the Earth's crust. Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust along which movement has occurred, resulting in earthquakes, fault slip, and other geologic phenomena. Fault mechanics researchers study the processes that govern how faults form, how they interact with each other, and how they behave under different conditions such as stress, pressure, and temperature. This research area is important for understanding seismic hazards, earthquake prediction, and the overall dynamics of the Earth's crust.