Coupled and multiphysics phenomena

The contributions assembled in the present volume proceed from the lectures of the 2015 ALERT Geomaterials Doctoral School devoted to Coupled and Multiphysics Phenomena. The school has been organized and coordinated by Bernhard Schrefler (Universit\ue0 degli Studi di Padova), Lorenzo Sanavia (Universit\ue0 degli Studi di Padova) and Fr\ue9d\ue9ric Collin (Universit\ue9 de Liege). When dealing with the behaviour of multiphase porous systems, e.g. geomaterials, instances of complexity and interaction are numerous, mainly because of the coexistence of several constituents and phases, their physical and mechanical interactions, their reactivity and their often non-linear behaviour. The study of these coupled processes deals with a large number of applications, e.g. in geomechanics: underground structures (storage, tunnelling), surface structures (earth and concrete dams, embankments) as well as the exploitation of geo-resources (petroleum and gas extraction, mines and quarries). This volume contains nine chapters in which emphasis is given to the presentation of the fundamental and new concepts that help understanding coupled and multiphysics phenomena in porous systems. The contributions cover experimental, theoretical, as well as numerical aspects. The school is divided into three main parts: the description of the couplings in multiphysics phenomena, including the experimental developments; the mathematical modelling of all these coupled processes, with an introduction to the constitutive modelling taking into account the dilatancy, which characterizes the mechanical behaviour of geomaterials; the numerical implementation of the mathematical models, comprising constitutive equations as well as balance equations and finally numerical modelling through advanced applications

Lattice Element Method and its application to Multiphysics

In this thesis, a Lattice element modelling method is developed and is applied to model the loose and cemented, natural and artificial, granular matters subject to thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled loading conditions. In lattice element method, the lattice nodes which can be considered as the centres of the unit cells, are connected by cohesive links, such as spring beams that can carry normal and shear forces, bending and torsion moment. For the heat transfer due to conduction, the cohesive links are also used to carry heat as 1D pipes, and the physical properties of these rods are computed based on the Hertz contact model. The hydro part is included with the pore network modelling scheme. The voids are inscribed with the pore nodes and connected with throats, and then the meso level flow equation is solved. The Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beams are chosen as the cohesive links or the lattice elements, while the latter should be used when beam elements are short and deep. This property becomes interesting in modelling auxetic materials. The model is applied to study benchmarks in geotechnical engineering. For heat transfer in the dry and full range of saturation, and fractures in the cemented granular media.How through porous media failure behaviours of rocks at high temperature and pressure and granular composites subjected to coupled Thermo hydro Mechanical loads. The model is further extended to capture the wave motion in the heterogeneous granular matter, and a few case studies for the wavefield modification with existing cracks are presented. The developed method is capable of capturing the complex interaction of crack wave interaction with relative ease and at a substantially less computational cost

Stress-induced permeability evolution in coal: Laboratory testing and numerical simulations

Mining operations produce a multiscale network of fractures in the coal seams. Permeability evolution in rocks is important for coal bed methane (CBM) and shale gas exploitation as well as for greenhouse gas storage. Therefore, this work presents laboratory tests and a coupled model using PFC3D and FLAC3D to simulate the stress induced permeability evolution in coal samples. Basic mechanical properties are determined via lab testing. The spatial distributions of different components inside the reconstructed samples produce a significant heterogeneity based on CT technique. A newly developed experimental system is employed to perform 3-dimensional loading and to measure the flow rate simultaneously. The evolution process is described by 5 distinct phases in terms of permeability and deformation. Triaxial tests are simulated with PFC3D using a novel flexible wall boundary method. Gas seepage simulations are performed with FLAC3D. Relations between hydraulic properties and fracture data are established. Permeability and volumetric strain show good nonlinear exponential relation after a newly introduced expansion point. Piecewise relations fit the whole process, the expansion point can be treated as critical point. The structural characteristics of the samples influence this relation before and after the expansion point significantly

Numerical modelling to predict fracturing rock (Thanet chalk) due to naturally occurring faults and fluid pressure

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Journal of Structural Geology on 30/07/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2018.07.021 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Outcrop mapping of a chalk cliff and wavecut platform in Thanet, Southeast England show a complex fracture pattern that seems to be controlled by meso-scale strike-slip faults within the chalk. The response of these faults to changes to in situ stress and fluid pressure is thought to control the nucleation and propagation of fractures in the chalk. In this study the DEM (Discrete Element Method) technique has been employed as a follow up to previous field and numerical (boundary and finite element method) investigations to ascertain the role of the faults in the initiation and nucleation of fractures The role of fluid pressure, in-situ stress, and fault geometry are recognised as focal factors. The generation of localised areas of tensile stresses due to fluid pressure and stress perturbations have been shown to cause the initiation of fractures around the fault bends. For releasing bends, localised tensile stresses tend to occur along the central segment of the fault bend, whereas for restraining bends, tensile stresses are more likely to develop on the outer edges of the fault bend. The dissimilarity in the fracturing process due to differences in the geometry of pre-existing faults demonstrates the significance of both fault geometry and fluid behaviour in controlling fracturing.Published versio

A fully coupled damage-plasticity model for unsaturated geomaterials accounting for the ductile-brittle transition in drying clayey soils

International audienceThis paper presents a hydro-mechanical constitutive model for clayey soils accounting for damage-plasticity couplings. Specific features of unsaturated clays such as confining pressure and suction effects on elastic domain and plastic strains are accounted for. A double effective stress incorporating both the effect of suction and damage is defined based on thermodynamical considerations, which results in a unique stress variable being thermodynamically conjugated to elastic strain. Coupling between damage and plasticity phenomena is achieved by following the principle of strain equivalence and incorporating the double effective stress into plasticity equations. Two distinct criteria are defined for damage and plasticity, which can be activated either independently or simultaneously. Their formulation in terms of effective stress and suction allows them to evolve in the total stress space with suction and damage changes. This leads to a direct coupling between damage and plasticity and allows the model to capture the ductile/brittle behaviour transition occurring when clays are drying. Model predictions are compared with experimental data on Boom Clay, and the flexibility of the model is illustrated by presenting results of simulations in which either damage or plasticity dominates the coupled behaviour

Soil-environment interactions in geotechnical engineering

The range of problems that geotechnical engineers must face is increasing in complexity and scope. Often, complexity arises from the interaction between the soil and the environment – the topic of this lecture. To deal with this type of problem, the classical soil mechanics formulation is progressively generalised in order to incorporate the effects of new phenomena and new variables on soil behaviour. Recent advances in unsaturated soil mechanics are presented first: it is shown that they provide a consistent framework for understanding the engineering behaviour of unsaturated soils, and the effects of suction and moisture changes. Building on those developments, soil behaviour is further explored by considering thermal effects for two opposite cases: high temperatures, associated with the problem of storage and disposal of high-level radioactive waste; and low temperatures in problems of freezing ground. Finally, the lecture examines some issues related to chemical effects on soils and rocks, focusing in part on the subject of tunnelling in sulphate-bearing rocks. In each case new environmental variables are identified, enhanced theoretical formulations are established, and new or extended constitutive laws are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on mechanical constitutive equations, as they are especially important in geotechnical engineering. The lecture includes summary accounts of a number of case histories that illustrate the relevance and implications of the developments described for geotechnical engineering practice

Hydro-mechanical analysis of expansive clays : constitutive and numerical modelling.

Bentonite-based materials are being currently considered in several countries as a backfill component in the multi-barrier concept for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. The bentonite barrier fulfils several important functions: i) high swelling capacity to fill gaps and compress the excavation damaged zone and ii) very low hydraulic conductivity and important retention capacity which retards significantly radionuclides transport. Small-scale testing in geotechnical laboratories and in-situ experiments in underground research laboratories (URL) have demonstrated that initial state, water supply conditions and volume constrictions are the main aspects affecting the behaviour of bentonites. In this context, the main objective of the present study is the numerical simulation of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of expansive clays. For this purpose, a constitutive model has been developed to characterise the bentonite-based materials. The modelling of these materials is a quite challenging task. They exhibit a marked double-porosity system in which the swelling/shrinkage mechanism occurs at clay aggregate level and the collapsible behaviour comes from granular-like skeleton formed by the aggregates. In addition, several material configuration, with even more intricate fabric, have been proposed for the emplacement works of seals and plugs. The explicit consideration of two structural levels for the constitutive model seems to be suitable. Mechanical interaction and water mass exchanges between them can explain the short- and long-term behaviour. The model has been formulated using concepts of elasto-plasticity for strain hardening materials and generalized plasticity theory. The formulation has been implemented in the finite element code program CODE-BRIGHT and has been used to solve a variety of problems. The results provide relevant insights into the hydro-mechanical behaviour of double structure porous media, and they indicated the main aspects affecting the responses of expansive barriers. In particular, the relevance of the structural levels interaction has been demonstrated.Postprint (published version