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Logo des Projektes ProSwell

Exploring thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupled processes during swelling of clay-sulfate rocks

Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschngsgemeinschaft

Despite its importance in geotechnical engineering, the swelling behavior of rocks is still insufficiently researched. ProSwell is a joint project of the École des Ponts ParisTech (Laboratoire Navier) and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Chair of Engineering Geology), with the aim of characterizing, understanding and modelling the macroscopically observable effects of rock swelling through microscale processes. The planned research work will focus on clay-sulfate rocks in which (physical) clay swelling and (chemical) anhydrite swelling occur together and influence each other.

Further information can be found in the GEPRIS database (DFG-funded projects) at https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/530391639?language=en.

Konzeptmodell der spannungsabhängigen Wechselwirkung zwischen Quellen und Fließen: Bei geringen Spannungen führt die Quellung zu mehr Strömung entlang von Trennflächen, wodurch das Quellen verstärkt wird (links). Bei hohen Spannungen führt das Quellen zu einer verringerten Strömung entlang der Trennflächen, wodurch das Quellen behindert wird.

Conceptual model of the stress-dependent interaction between swelling and flow: At low stresses, swelling leads to more flow along interfaces, which increases swelling (left). At high stresses, swelling leads to reduced flow along the interfaces, which impedes swelling.