Modelling gas fracturing in saturated clay samples using triple-node zero-thickness interface elements

Geological Disposal Facilities (GDF) for radioactive waste will generally rely on clay-rich materials as a host geological formation and/or engineered barrier. Gas will be produced within the GDF, which can build up significant gas pressure and will activate the migration of gas through the clay materials via different transport mechanisms....

Effects of carbonate distribution pattern on the mechanical behaviour of bio-cemented sands: A DEM study

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation is a promising ground improvement technique which can enhance the mechanical properties of soils through the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Experimental evidences indicate that the precipitated carbonate can display different distribution patterns. Crystals can develop at grain–grain contacts ...

Effects of Carbonate Distribution Inhomogeneity on the Improvement Level of Bio-cemented Sands: A DEM Study

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) involves bacteria to drive calcite precipitation and naturally cement soils, thereby improving soils performance. Experimental studies have shown that bio-cemented specimen can suffer from severe spatial inhomogeneity of the calcite content, leading to large uncertainty in treatment...

Numerical modelling of discrete gas flow pathways in water saturated clay

Experimental characterisation of self-healing in reconstituted Boom Clay

Numerical Study of Fluid Loss into a Thief Zone overlying a Geothermal Reservoir

and boundary connected with aquifer respectively, are discussed. On the basis of these two boundary conditions, several factors that influence the fluid loss process are studied. For the thief zone with no-flow boundary, our key conclusions illustrate that once the pressure front reaches an opening in the sealing, fluid loss occurs. However,...

An experimental and numerical study of bentonite swelling under constant-volume conditions

Numerical simulation of a water infiltration test on a proposed backfill material in nuclear waste repositories

A water infiltration test was numerically simulated using the finite element method. The modified Barcelona Basic Model and the double-structure water retention model was used for the numerical analysis. A methodology is presented for parameter identification and calibration purpose. The experimental results highlighted the porosity...

Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis of expansive soils: Parametric identification and calibration

A methodology for identifying and calibrating the material parameters for a coupled hydro-mechanical problem is presented in this paper. For validation purpose, a laboratory-based water infiltration test was numerically simulated using finite element method (FEM). The test was conducted using a self-designed column-type experimental device,...

A fully coupled hydro-mechanical framework for expansive clays