Effects of microstructure on THM behaviour of geomaterials

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of geomaterials at the light of their microstructure and its changes induced by multiphysics loading. After recalling the strong links between the microstructure and the water retention properties of unsaturated soils, the relation between themicrostructure and the physical properties ruling heat and mass transfers are discussed. The mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils is then discussed focussing on the definition of an effective stress based on a microstructure description. The experimental determination of this microstructurally-based effective stressis presented, including recent advances to identify the stress coefficient from Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry data. Opening remarks towards macroscopic modelling of unsaturated geomaterials accounting for their microstructure and its changes is finally discussed.