Material point method simulation of hydro-mechanical behaviour in twophase porous geomaterials: A state-of-the-art review

The material point method(MPM)has been gaining increasing popularity as an appropriate approach to the solution of coupled hydro-mechanical problems involving large deformation.In this paper,we survey the current state-of-the-art in the MPM simulation of hydro-mechanical behaviour in two-phase porous geomaterials.The review covers the recent advances and developments in the MPM and their extensions to capture the coupled hydro-mechanical problems involving large deformations.The focus of this review is aiming at providing a clear picture of what has or has not been developed or implemented for simulating two-phase coupled large deformation problems,which will provide some direct reference for both practitioners and researchers.

On the hydro-mechanical behaviour of MX80 bentonite-based materials

Bentonite-based materials have been considered in many countries as engineered barrier/backfilling materials in deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.During the long period of waste storage,these materials will play an essential role in ensuring the integrity of the storage system that consists of the waste canisters,the engineered barrier/backfill,the retaining structures as well as the geological barrier.Thus,it is essential to well understand the hydro-mechanical behaviours of these bentonite-based materials.This review paper presents the recent advances of knowledge on MX80 bentonite-based materials,in terms of water retention properties,hydraulic behaviour and mechanical behaviour.Emphasis is put on the effect of technological voids and the role of the dry density of bentonite.The swelling anisotropy is also discussed based on the results from swelling tests with measurements of both axial and radial swelling pressures on a sand-bentonite mixture compacted at different densities.Microstructure observation was used to help the interpretation of macroscopic hydromechanical behaviour.Also,the evolution of soil microstructure thus the soil density over time is discussed based on the results from mock-up tests.This evolution is essential for understanding the longterm hydro-mechanical behaviour of the engineered barrier/backfill.

On the chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of geological and engineered barriers

An overview of the recent findings about the chemo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of materials used for both geological and engineered barriers in nuclear waste disposal is presented, through some examples about the natural Boom Clay （BC） and compacted bentonite-based materials. For the natural BC, it was found that compression index identified from both oedometer and isotropic compression tests is sim- ilar and the compressibility of BC from the Mol site is higher than that of BC from the Essen site： the shear strength of Mol BC is also higher than that of the Essen BC, suggesting a significant effect of carbo- nates content; the thermal volume change is strongly overconsolidation ratio （OCR） dependent-low OCR values promote thermal contraction while high OCR values favour thermal dilation; the volume change behaviour is also strongly time dependent and this time dependent behaviour is governed by the stress level and temperature; the effect of pore-water salinity on the volume change behaviour can be signif- icant when the smectite content is relatively high. For the bentonite-based materials, it was found that thermal contraction also occurs at low OCR values, but this is suction dependent--suction promotes ther- mal dilation. Under constant volume conditions, wetting results in a decrease of hydraulic conductivity, followed by an increase. This is found to be related to changes in macro-pores size-wetting induces a decrease of macro-pores size, followed by an increase due to the aggregates fissuring. The presence of technological voids can increase the hydraulic conductivity but does not influence the swelling pressure.

Experiments on thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of Opalinus Clay at Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland

Repositories for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste rely on multi-barrier systems to isolate waste from the biosphere.A multi-barrier system typically comprises the natural geological barrier provided by the repository host rock e in our case the Opalinus Clay e and an engineered barrier system(EBS).The Swiss repository concept for spent fuel and vitrified high-level waste(HLW)consists of waste canisters,which are emplaced horizontally in the middle of an emplacement gallery and are separated from the gallery wall by granular backfill material(GBM).We describe here a selection of five in-situ experiments where characteristic hydro-mechanical(HM)and thermo-hydro-mechanical(THM)processes have been observed.The first example is a coupled HM and mine-by test where the evolution of the excavation damaged zone(EDZ)was monitored around a gallery in the Opalinus Clay(ED-B experiment).Measurements of pore-water pressures and convergences due to stress redistribution during excavation highlighted the HM behaviour.The same measurements were subsequently carried out in a heater test(HE-D)where we were able to characterise the Opalinus Clay in terms of its THM behaviour.These yielded detailed data to better understand the THM behaviours of the granular backfill and the natural host rock.For a presentation of the Swiss concept for HLW storage,we designed three demonstration experiments that were subsequently implemented in the Mont Terri rock laboratory:(1)the engineered barrier(EB)experiment,(2)the in-situ heater test on key-THM processes and parameters(HE-E)experiment,and(3)the full-scale emplacement(FE)experiment.The first demonstration experiment has been dismantled,but the last two ones are on-going.

The coupled hydro-mechanical behaviours of compacted crushed Callovo-Oxfordian argillite

Callovo-Oxfordian （COx） argillite obtained from the excavation of high-level radioactive waste geological disposal has been evaluated as an alternative sealing/backfill material in France. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted crushed COx argillite. A series of oedorneter compressive tests including various loading-unloading cycles were conducted on COx argillite powders at different initial water contents. After reaching the desired dry density （2.0 Mg/m^3）, the vertical stress was reduced to different levels （7.0 and 0.5 MPa） and the compacted sample was then flooded under constant volume conditions while measuring the changes in the vertical stress. It was found that the initial water content significantly affects the compressive behaviour. The measured saturated hydraulic conductivity is less than 1×10^-10m/s.

Investigation of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted expansive clay

The hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted expansive Romainville clay was investigated.The soil was air-dried,crushed,and passed through a 2 mm sieve before being statically compacted to a dry density of 1.35 Mg/m3.The mechanical behaviour was investigated by tests in oedometer with controlled suction using the vapor equilibrium technique(suction s=0,9,39,and 110 MPa).The vertical stress was applied in the range of 0-800 kPa.The experimental results are shown as follows:1)wetting-induced swelling was higher at lower vertical stresses;2)the vertical stress under which no swelling occurred during water flooding was estimated at 60 kPa,which can be considered as the swelling pressure of the soil tested;3)the soil compressibility(changes of volume upon stress increases)was strongly influenced by the soil suction:the lower the suction,the higher the compressibility.The hydraulic behaviour was investigated using a large-scale infiltration chamber(800mm×1000 mm in section and 1000mm high).The large size of the soil column allowed bttrying the volumetric water content sensors(ThetaProbe)without significantly affecting the water transfer and the soil swelling during infiltration.The soil suction was monitored along the soil height(every 100 mm)using various relative humidity sensors and psychrometers.In the infiltration test,water was kept on the soil surface and changes in suction and volumetric water content were monitored for 338 d.The wetting front has reached the bottom of the soil column at the end of the test.The data from the simultaneous monitoring of suction and water content were used to determine the water retention curve and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity using the instantaneous profile method.It has been observed that the soil water retention curve depends on the soil depth;that is to be related to the soil depthdependent swelling.The unsaturated hydraulic conductiv-ity was found to be quite low,comprised between 3×10-11m/s(at saturated state)and 10-14m/s(at about 100 MPa suction).

Investigation of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of fouled ballast

In this study,a fouled ballast taken from the site of Sénissiat,France,was investigated.For the hydraulic behaviour,a large-scale cell was developed allowing drainage and evaporation tests to be carried out with monitoring of both suction and volumetric water content at various positions of the sample.It was observed that the hydraulic conductivity of fouled ballast is decreasing with suction increase,as for common unsaturated soils.The effect of fines content was found to be negligible.For the mechanical behaviour,both monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests were carried out using a large-scale triaxial cell.Various water contents were considered.The results were interpreted in terms of shear strength and permanent axial strain.It appeared that the water content is an important factor to be accounted for since any increase of water content or degree of saturation significantly decreases the shear strength and increases the permanent strain.Constitutive modelling has been attempted based on the experimental results.The model in its current state is capable of describing the effects of stress level,cycle number and water content.

Development of CASRock for modeling multi-fracture interactions in rocks under hydro-mechanical conditions

The interaction between multiple fractures is important in the analysis of rock fracture propagation,fracture network evolution and stability and integrity of rocks under hydro-mechanical(HM)coupling conditions.At present,modeling the mechanical behavior of multiple fractures is still challenging.Under the condition of multiple fractures,the opening,closing,sliding,propagation and penetration of fractures become more complicated.In order to simulate the HM coupling behavior of multi-fracture system,the paper presents a novel numerical scheme,including mesh reconstruction and topology generation algorithm,to efficiently and accurately represent fractures and their propagation process,and a potential function-based algorithm to address contact problem.The fracture contact algorithm does not need to set contact pairs and thus is suitable for complex contact situations from small to large deformations induced by HM loading.The topology of fracture interfaces is constructed by the dynamic adding algorithm,which makes the mesh reconstruction more rapid in the modeling of fracturing process,especially in the case of multiple fractures intersections.The numerical scheme is implemented in CASRock,a self-developed numerical code,to simulate the propagation process of rock fractures and the interaction of multiple fractures under the condition of HM coupling.To verify the suitability of the code,a series of tests were performed.The code was then applied to simulate hydraulic fracture propagation and fracture interactions caused by fluid injection.The ability of this method to study fracture propagation,multi-fracture interaction and fracture network evolution under hydro-mechanical coupling conditions is demonstrated.

Joints in unsaturated rocks:Thermo-hydro-mechanical formulation and constitutive behaviour

A formulation for the coupled analysis of thermo-hydro-mechanical （THM） problems in joints is first presented. The work involves the establishment of equilibrium and mass and energy balance equations. Balance equations were formulated taking into account two phases： water and air. The joint element developed was implemented in a general purpose finite element computer code for THM analysis of porous media （Code_Bright）. The program was then used to study a number of cases ranging from laboratory tests to large scale in situ tests. A numerical simulation of coupled hydraulic shear tests of rough granite joints is first presented. The tests as well as the model show the coupling between permeability and the deformation of thejoints. The experimental investigation was focused on the effects of suction on the mechanical behaviour of rock joints. Laboratory tests were performed in a direct shear cell equipped with suction control. Suction was imposed using a vapour forced convection circuit connected to the cell and controlled by an air pump. Artificial joints of Lilla claystone were prepared.Joint roughness of varying intensity was created by carving the surfaces in contact in such a manner that rock ridges of different tip angles were formed. These angles ranged from 0° （smooth joint） to 45° （very rough joint profile）. The geometric profiles of the two surfaces in contact were initially positioned in a ＂matching＂ situation. Several tests were performed for different values of suctions （200, 100, and 20 MPa） and for different values of vertical stresses （30, 60, and 150 kPa）. A constitutive model including the effects of suction and joint roughness is proposed to simulate the unsaturated behaviour of rock joints. The new constitutive law was incorporated in the code and experimental results were numerically simulated.

Characteristics on Hydro-mechanical Transmission in Power Shift Process

To improve the vehicular power and acceleration performance and reduce the shift impact, the study of the characteristics on power shift is necessary. Based on the flexible hydraulic unit of hydro-mechanical transmission, this paper explores the feasibility of shift without power interruption. With the four models concerning displacement ratio, rotational speed, rotational torque and power at ideal shift point, the characteristics on power shift in different running conditions are analyzed, and the rules of power shift are revealed. The theoretical analysis and test results show that the hydro-mechanical transmission can shift without power interruption in different running conditions. Furthermore, there exists an ideal shift point in theory, at which point the cycle power in hydro-mechanical transmission can＇t be generated, and the impact on the system can be reduced to the minimum. However, if before or after this ideal shift point, a cycle power can be generated.

Main outcomes from in situ thermo-hydro-mechanical experiments programme to demonstrate feasibility of radioactive high-level waste disposal in the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone

In the context of radioactive waste disposal,an underground research laboratory(URL)is a facility in which experiments are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing and operating a radioactive waste disposal facility within a geological formation.The Meuse/Haute-Marne URL is a sitespecific facility planned to study the feasibility of a radioactive waste disposal in the Callovo-Oxfordian(COx)claystone.The thermo-hydro-mechanical(THM)behaviour of the host rock is significant for the design of the underground nuclear waste disposal facility and for its long-term safety.The French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency(Andra)has begun a research programme aiming to demonstrate the relevancy of the French high-level waste(HLW)concept.This paper presents the programme implemented from small-scale(small diameter)boreholes to full-scale demonstration experiments to study the THM effects of the thermal transient on the COx claystone and the strategy implemented in this new programme to demonstrate and optimise current disposal facility components for HLW.It shows that the French high-level waste concept is feasible and working in the COx claystone.It also exhibits that,as for other plastic clay or claystone,heating-induced pore pressure increases and that the THM behaviour is anisotropic.

Investigation of SUS304 Stainless Steel with Warm Hydro-mechanical Deep Drawing

Basing on warm mechanical property of SUS304 stainless steel and hydro-mechanical deep drawing process, warm hydro-mechanical deep drawing process is proposed and discussed with experiments in this paper. The experiments are performed at four different temperatures. The results show that the formability of stainless steel is improved under the condition of warm temperature. Warm hydro-mechanical deep drawing raises limiting drawing ratio of SUS304 effectively, and limiting drawing ratio 3.3 is obtained, which is beyond 2.0 with conventional deep drawing. The temperature of 90℃ is beneficial to the forming of SUS304 stainless steel, the strain-induced martensite is controlled effectively, and the thickness distribution is more uniform.

Hydro-mechanical behavior of an argillaceous limestone considered as a potential host formation for radioactive waste disposal

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission(CNSC), Canada’s nuclear regulator, conducts regulatory research in order to develop independent knowledge on safety aspects related to the deep geological disposal of radioactive wastes. In Canada, the Cobourg limestone of the Michigan Basin is currently considered as a potential host formation for geological disposal. The understanding of the hydromechanical behavior of such a host rock is one of the essential requirements for the assessment of its performance as a barrier against radionuclide migration. The excavation of galleries and shafts of a deep geological repository(DGR) can induce damage to the surrounding rock. The excavation damaged zone(EDZ) has higher permeability and reduced strength compared to the undisturbed rock and those factors must be considered in the design and safety assessment of the DGR. The extent and characteristics of the EDZ depend on the size of the opening, the rock type and its properties, and the in situ stresses, among other factors. In addition, the extent and characteristics of the EDZ can change with time due to rock strength degradation, evolution of fractures within the EDZ, and the redistribution of pore pressure around the excavation. In this research project initiated by the CNSC, the authors conducted experimental and theoretical research in order to assess the hydro-mechanical behavior of the Cobourg limestone under undamaged and damaged conditions, both in the short and long terms. The short-term behavior was investigated by a program of triaxial tests with the measurement of permeability evolution on specimens of Cobourg limestone. The authors formulate a coupled hydro-mechanical model to simulate the stress-strain response and evolution of the permeability during those triaxial tests. Using creep and relaxation data from a similar limestone, the model was extended to include its long-term strength degradation. The model successfully simulated both the short-and long-term hydro-mechanical behavior of the limestone during those tests. This provides confidence that the main physical processes have been adequately understood and formulated.

Distribution characteristics and impact on pump＇s efficiency of hydro-mechanical losses of axial piston pump over wide operating ranges

A novel performance model of losses of pump was presented,which allows an explicit insight into the losses of various friction pairs of pump.The aim is to clarify that to what extent the hydro-mechanical losses affect efficiency,and to further gain an insight into the variation and distribution characteristics of hydro-mechanical losses over wide operating ranges.A good agreement is found in the comparisons between simulation and experimental results.At rated speed,the hydro-mechanical losses take a proportion ranging from 87% to 89% and from 68% to 97%,respectively,of the total power losses of pump working under 5 MPa pressure conditions,and 13% of full displacement conditions.Furthermore,within the variation of speed ranging from 48% to 100% of rated speed,and pressure ranging from 14% to 100% of rated pressure,the main sources of hydro-mechanical losses change to slipper swash plate pair and valve plate cylinder pair at low displacement conditions,from the piston cylinder pair and slipper swash plate pair at full displacement conditions.Besides,the hydro-mechanical losses in ball guide retainer pair are found to be almost independent of pressure.The derived conclusions clarify the main orientations of efforts to improve the efficiency performance of pump,and the proposed model can service for the design of pump with higher efficiency performance.

A 3D microseismic data-driven damage model for jointed rock mass under hydro-mechanical coupling conditions and its application

Rock mass is a fractured porous medium usually subjected to complex geostress and fluid pressure simultaneously.Moreover,the properties of rock mass change in time and space due to mining-induced fractures.Therefore,it is always challenging to accurately measure rock mass properties.In this study,a three-dimensional(3D)microseismic(MS)data-driven damage model for jointed rock mass under hydro-mechanical coupling conditions is proposed.It is a 3D finite element model that takes seepage,damage and stress field effects into account jointly.Multiple factors(i.e.joints,water and microseismicity)are used to optimize the rock mass mechanical parameters at different scales.The model is applied in Shirengou iron mine to study the damage evolution of rock mass and assess the crown pillar stability during the transition from open-pit to underground mining.It is found that the damage pattern is mostly controlled by the structure,water and rock mass parameters.The damage pattern is evidently different from the two-dimensional result and is more consistent with the field observations.This difference is caused by the MS-derived damage acting on the rock mass.MS data are responsible for gradually correcting the damage zone,changing the direction in which it expands,and promoting it to evolve close to reality.For the crown pillar,the proposed model yields a more trustworthy safety factor.In order to guarantee the stability of the pillar,it is suggested to take waterproof and reinforcement measures in areas with a high degree of damage.

A dissolution-diffusion sliding model for soft rock grains with hydro-mechanical effect

The deformation and failure of soft rock affected by hydro-mechanical（HM） effect are one of the most concerns in geotechnical engineering, which are basically attributed to the grain sliding of soft rock. This study tried to develop a dissolution-diffusion sliding model for the typical red bed soft rock in South China. Based on hydration film, mineral dissolution and diffusion theory, and geochemical thermodynamics, a dissolution-diffusion sliding model with the HM effect was established to account for the sliding rate. Combined with the digital image processing technology, the relationship between the grain size of soft rock and the amplitude of sliding surface was presented. An equation for the strain rate of soft rocks under steady state was also derived. The reliability of the dissolution-diffusion sliding model was verified by triaxial creep tests on the soft rock with the HM coupling effect and by the relationship between the inversion average disjoining pressure and the average thickness of the hydration film. The results showed that the sliding rate of the soft rock grains was affected significantly by the waviness of sliding surface, the shear stress, and the average thickness of hydration film. The average grain size is essential for controlling the steady-state creep rate of soft rock. This study provides a new idea for investigating the deformation and failure of soft rock with the HM effect.

Research and Design of Hydro-mechanical Continuously Variable Transmission for Tractors

A new type continuous variable transmission device, a hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission （HMCVT） for agricultural tractors is developed, which is composed of a single planetary gear differential train, a hydraulic transmission system consisted of variable displacement pump and fixed displacement motor and a multi-gear fixed step radio transmission. Based on the analysis of types of hydrostatic mechanical transmission （HMT） and styles of hydraulic transmission, the general drive scheme for HMCVT is obtained. The method of selecting mechanical parameters and hydraulic units is explained, and the stepless speed regulation characteristic of HMCVT is analyzed. This paper also specializes the calculating method of transmission efficiency. It shows that tractors assembled with HMCVT can obtain a continuously variable speed and achieve high drive efficiency.

Hydro-mechanical coupling mechanism on joint of clay core-wall and concrete cut-off wall

The joint of clay core-wall and concrete cut-off wall is one of the weakest parts in high earth and rockftll dams.A kind of highly plastic clay is always fixed on the joint to fit the large shear deformation between clay core-wall and concrete cut-offwall,so the hydro-mechanical coupling mechanisms on the joint under high stress,high hydraulic gradient,and large shear deformation are of great importance for the evaluation of dam safety.The hydro-mechanical coupling characteristics of the joint of the highly plastic clay and the concrete cut-off wall in a high earth and rockfill dam in China were studied by using a newly designed soil-structure contact erosion apparatus.The experimental results indicate that：1） Shear failure on the joint is due to the hydro-mechanical coupling effect of stress and seepage failure.The seepage failure will induce the final shear failure when the ratio of deviatoric stress to confining pressure is within 1.0-1.2; 2） A negative exponential permeability empirical model for the joint denoted by a newly defined principal stress function,which considers the coupling effect of confining pressure and axial pressure on the permeability,is established based on hydro-mechanical coupling experiments.3） The variation of the settlement before and after seepage failure is very different.The settlement before seepage failure changes very slowly,while it increases significantly after the seepage failure.4） The stress-strain relationship is of a strain softening type.5） Flow along the joint still follows Darcian flow rule.The results will provide an important theoretical basis for the further evaluation on the safety of the high earth and rockfill dam.

Numerical simulation of sanding using a coupled hydro-mechanical sand erosion model

Mechanical failure of materials adjacent to the production cavity and material disaggregation caused by fluid drag are considered as the most important parameters that affect sand production.In light of such factors,the coupling of two mechanisms-mechanical instability and hydrodynamic erosion-is indispensable in order to model this phenomenon successfully.This paper examines the applicability of a coupled hydro-mechanical erosion criterion for simulating sand production using the finite element method.The porous medium was considered fully saturated.The onset of sanding and production of sand were predicted by coupling mechanical failure and subsequent erosion of the grain particles utilizing a sanding model.To consider the erosion process,the Papamichos and Stavropoulou(1998)’s sand erosion criterion was incorporated into the finite element code.Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian(ALE)adaptive mesh approach was used to account for large amounts of erosive material loss.Besides,in order to address the problem of severe mesh distortion,the“mesh mapping technique”was employed.Sand production in a horizontal wellbore and in a field case was simulated to demonstrate capabilities of the proposed model.In addition,principal parameters affecting sand production,including in situ stresses,cohesion,perforation orientation,and drawdown were examined.The results indicated the efficiency of the model used in evaluation of sanding in the field.Parametric studies indicated that in situ stresses and formation cohesion could be considered as dominant factors affecting the amount of sand production.

Accounting for anisotropic effects in the prediction of the hydro-mechanical response of a ventilated tunnel in an argillaceous rock

In order to investigate the hydro-mechanical （HM） and chemical perturbations induced in an argillaceous formation by forced ventilation during the operational period of a nuclear waste repository, a specific experiment has been performed in a tunnel, at Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory （URL） in Switzerland. This experiment has been selected in the international project DECOVALEX for model vali- dation and the numerical simulation of this ventilation experiment （VE） is the object of the present paper. Since the argillaceous rock exhibits anisotropic properties, particular attention is given to the evaluation of the effects of various anisotropic features on the predicted results. In situ measurements such as relative humidity （RH）, global water mass extracted, pore water pressure, water content, and relative displace- ments are compared to predictions using both isotropic and anisotropic parameters. Water permeability anisotropy is shown to be the most influencing parameter by far, whereas in situ stress anisotropy has an effect only during the excavation phase. The anisotropy for mechanical parameterization has also some influence, in particular through HM couplings. These HM couplings have the potential to be very significant in terms of providing confidence in describing the experimental observation, and should be considered for further investigation.