Modeling the Swelling Behavior of Clayey Geomaterials Across Scales: Advances and Challenges

Abstract

Most soils and rocks contain varying fractions of clay minerals within their solid matrix. These geomaterials can exhibit a significant swelling potential toward chemo‐thermo‐hydromechanical loadings. Several multiscale modeling techniques have been developed to ascertain their swelling behavior across various scales, with molecular dynamics (MD), micromechanics‐based approaches, and double‐porosity models being the most common. MD simulation is a computational technique that applies Newton's second law of motion to depict the movement of particles within a granular system. Micromechanics‐based approaches upscale the poro‐elasticity law from the clay layer level to the sample scale through homogenization. Dual‐porosity models are generally based on elasto‐plasticity, incorporating different hydro‐mechanical laws at two distinct scales. These models have been extensively used, particularly for clayey soils and bentonites, though their application to clayey rocks has not been reported in the literature. Although their significant contribution to the understanding of clay swelling behavior, these techniques have been insufficiently reviewed, compared, and discussed mutually in the literature. This paper aims to provide a cross‐look on these multiscale approaches by presenting the theoretical background of existing formulations, highlighting breakthrough results, discussing major differences and current challenges, and proposing future perspectives.