Geomechanics and Hydrogeology
Geomechanics
Principal Investigator
Sebastià Olivella
Overview
Research
Staff
Projects
Publications
The Geomechanics group develops models and tools to simulate the complex behaviour of soils and rocks, focusing on coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) processes in porous media and their application to underground structures, dams, and soil-fluid-structure interaction problems.
CIMNE’s Geomechanics Research Group advances the fundamental understanding and computational modelling of soil and rock behaviour through an integrated approach that balances theoretical research, software development, laboratory experimentation, and engineering practice. The group is internationally recognized for its contributions to the simulation of coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) processes in porous media, with applications to the design and analysis of geotechnical and underground structures such as tunnels, deep foundations, geo-reservoirs, and earth and rockfill dams.
Research efforts also focus on soil-fluid-structure interaction problems, supporting the development of robust numerical tools and physical testing methodologies. Over the years, the group has become a reference in the geotechnical engineering field, bridging scientific innovation with practical application to address complex challenges in natural and built environments.
Research areas
Coupled multi-physical analyses of porous media. Application to radioactive waste disposal
Development of constitutive and numerical formulations for the analysis coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical problems (THM). Application to the analyses of large-scale field experiments carried out in underground laboratories. (PIs: Jean Vaunat and Sebastià Olivella).
Numerical analysis of large-scale infrastructure projects
Performance of numerical analyses using advanced constitutive models and computational techniques to assist the design, construction and monitoring of large-scale infrastructure projects. (PI: Antonio Gens).
Advance image analysis techniques for laboratory experiments in soils including large displacements and deformations. Measurements of degree of saturation based on infrared-images.
(PI: Núria M. Pinyol).
Multi scale analysis of low-carbon soil binders
(PIs: Alessandro Fraccica, Enrique Romero and Marcos Arroyo).
Unsaturated Soil Mechanics. Experimental and theoretical advances. Application to embankments, dams and radioactive waste disposal.
Research in unsaturated soil mechanics covers the development of constitutive models, specialized testing, numerical analysis and application to a variety of Geotechnical and Environmental problems. (PI: Eduardo Alonso).
Comparison of measured deviatoric deformations in high number cyclic triaxial tests of unsaturated compacted samples and model predictions
Degree of saturation of a sand column subjected to an infiltration test. Image obtained by Short Wave Infra Red (SWIR) camera
Rockfill Mechanics. Particle breakage. Relative humidity effect. DEM modelling.
Time dependent compressibility of coarse granular aggregates. Effects of hydro-mechanical history and aggregate size. (PI: Eduardo Alonso).
Relative Humidity controlled device for testing coarse granular aggregates
Multi-scale experiments and analyses of geomaterials
Multi-scale analyses of geomaterials are essential to provide a more in-depth understanding of processes at the microstructural level affecting the macroscopic behaviour. These analyses allow validating multi-scale constitutive models used in geotechnical applications. (PIs: Enrique Romero and Laura González-Blanco).
Multi-physics experiments and modelling of geomaterials
This research line is devoted to performing highly coupled multi-physics and boundary value experiments to support innovative modelling approaches dealing with multi-physics processes in geomaterials and related materials. (PIs: Enrique Romero and Laura González-Blanco).
Crystal Growth in Anhydritic Rocks. Swelling and structure interaction.
This research line is based on the study of swelling behaviour in sulphated rocks and compacted soils induced by crystal growth. The research encompasses laboratory investigations and the development of a computational tool capable to reproduce, in a coupled manner, the hydraulic, mechanical and chemical processes involved in expansions. (PI: Anna Ramon).
Analysis and modelling of tailings dams
(PIs: Marcos Arroyo, Daniel Tarragó and Antonio Gens).
DEM and PFEM modelling of soil structure interaction
(PIs: Marcos Arroyo, Daniel Tarragó and Antonio Gens).
Thermal-hydro-mechanical large deformation problems in porous media. Development of a Material Point Method open source code.
• Thermal accelerated seismic-induced-landslides. MPM modelling of earthquake-induced rapid landslides including frictional-induced thermal effects by means the Material Point Method and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical formulation approach. Implementation in Anura3D (Open-source code) and application in real cases.
• MPM modelling of flow-landslides. Modelling real cases. Implementation of an advanced constitutive model to simulate flow-like landslides involving static liquefaction in saturated and partially saturated soils.
(PI: Núria M. Pinyol)
Design and construction of a geotechnical drum centrifuge for evaluating physical models subjected to large displacements and deformations. Measurements of displacement and degree of saturation will be made by advance image analysis techniques under development.
Cracking in desiccating soils
(PIs: Alberto Ledesma and Pere Prat).
Ongoing projects
Finished projects
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